|
| Cooling
For Your Home |
Choosing
an Air Conditioning System
Selecting an air conditioner for
your home is a big decision. It’s an important investment today.
It will play a key role in your home energy expenses
for years to come. And when the summer heat is at its
worst, you’ll want your family to have the best,
most reliable cooling comfort possible. Here are a
few things to consider.
 What
do good central air units have in common?
How
can I be sure my Unit is the right size?
Which
air conditioners are energy efficient?
Are
some air conditioners built better than others?
What
should I look for in a dealer?
What do good central air units
have in common?
The best ones are efficient, operating on minimal
electricity to hold utility bills down. They provide
steady, dependable performance year after year when
properly maintained. Good systems are quiet, long-lasting
and low in service needs.
Back to the top
How can I be sure my Unit is the right
size?
Obviously, an air conditioner that’s too small won’t keep your home
sufficiently cool. But what many don’t realize is that an oversized system
will cycle (turn on and off) more than necessary, wasting expensive energy and
possibly putting undue strain on the compressor.
A good dealer will determine
the optimum size for your home by making a careful study of your cooling
requirements. Window dimensions and exposure. Floor
space, insulation and local climate. Heat-generating
appliances. The direction your home faces. Even the
amount of your home’s exterior shaded by trees.
He’ll
specify the cooling capacity of the system in either
Btu/h (British thermal units of heat removed per hour)
or refrigeration tons (one ton being equal to 12,000
Btu/h).
Back to the top
Which air conditioners are energy efficient?
Much like automobile manufacturers, today’s
air conditioner manufacturers are required by law to
evaluate and rate their equipment according to its
energy efficiency. This rating is known in the industry
as a SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. The
higher the SEER, the more efficient the equipment.
Most
new homes with central air come equipped with a standard
builder’s model. However, when replacement
becomes necessary, property owners can upgrade their
air conditioning by specifying a more energy-efficient
system.
The Rheem Classic XIV® High Efficiency
model, for example, has a SEER of 14.00, among the
highest available. It’s significantly higher
than today’s
standard models, many of which carry SEER’s
of around 10.
High SEER models are generally more
expensive, but can easily make up the difference
by reducing your home energy bills over the long
run.
Back to the top
Are some air conditioners built better
than others?
The compressor is the heart of a condensing unit.
On a hot day, it works long and hard. Rheem installs the highly advanced scroll compressor in every Rheem condensing unit we produce. Scroll Compressors
are recognized by the industry as the leader in reliability,
efficiency and quiet operation.
Other features to look
for include louvered steel cabinets that protect the
coils from damage and expensive repair bills.
Also, with some condensing units, the
fan can be another source of bothersome noise. Rheem
units have a grill design that minimizes air restriction
for quieter fan operation.
Back to the top
What
should I look for in a dealer?
Dependability. Look for a dealer you see in your community.
You want one who’s close by to provide you faster,
more convenient service.
He should offer a recognized name brand. And he
should have a well-stocked inventory of replacement
parts. You wouldn’t want to sit out a mid-summer
heat wave waiting for a simple repair!
One way to
be sure you’ll get good service
is to contact a neighborhood Rheem dealer.
Your local
Rheem dealer is knowledgeable, dependable, and as good
as any you’ll find in the business.
Give him a call or click here to find a dealer near
you.
Back to the top |
|
 |
