Cooling

Most homeowners buy central air conditioning for cool, quiet comfort when it's hot and humid outside. Central air conditioning systems:

keep traffic noise, dust and pollution outside.
prevent sleep loss associated with noisy window air conditioners.
help your family cope with hot, humid summer days.

However, not all central air conditioners operate the same way, you should be aware of the following before you buy:

A. If you want to enjoy your backyard in the summer, choose the right product and right location for your outdoor unit. To reduce cost it should be placed in the closest location to your furnace.

B. Don't buy an oversized central air conditioner. It will cool the air too quickly during short operating cycles, which will reduce its operating efficiency and prevent it from removing humidity in your home. A properly sized unit will remove that cold, clammy feeling.

C. The following is a rule of thumb guideline for sizing residential systems:

House Size (square footage)	Size of Central Air System (tons)
1,000-1,500	1.5
1,500-2,000	2
2,000-2,500	2.5
2,500-3,000	3

Keep in mind this is only a guideline for standard two story homes. Factors such as skylights, type of insulation, the number and size of south facing windows, sizing of duct work, protective shade trees etc. can significantly affect the size of system required.

Another factor that must be considered is whether the duct system and furnace fan have the ability to handle the air flow needed for central air conditioning. We will be able to make a proper recommendation during the site inspection.

D. The efficiency of central air conditioning equipment is compared using a S.E.E.R. value. S.E.E.R. stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The higher the number the more efficient the equipment.

Today's ENERGY STAR^® qualified central air conditioners use up to 20% less energy than standard new central air conditioners. The ENERGY STAR^® specification for central air conditioners requires that the EnerGuide S.E.E.R rating be 13.0 or greater.

By choosing to buy an ENERGY STAR^® qualified central air conditioner that is sized correctly for your home, you can help to reduce green house gases and smog precursors, realize substantial electrical savings and increase your household comfort.