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We are proud to be associated with top-of-the-line companies such as Carrier and Trane. Their products are well-engineered, well-built, and designed for years of worry-free performance. And their warranties are among the strongest anywhere.

What should I look for in a new air conditioner?

Quality
Purchasing a brand name that has a reputation for quality and reliability can save you headaches and extra expense down the road.

Efficiency
Cooling efficiency for air conditioners is indicated by a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating, which tells you how efficiently the unit uses electricity. In general, the higher the SEER or HSPF rating, the less electricity the unit will use to cool your home. In 1992, the government established minimum efficiency standards for units installed in new homes at 10.0 SEER and 6.8 HSPF. High-efficiency units have a SEER of at least 12.0; the maximum available is about 18. Usually, the higher the efficiency, the more expensive the unit. In the Carolinas, you will probably see the higher cost of a high-efficiency air conditioner paid back (through lower utility bills) in a few short years. We can help you determine about how long it would take you to recover the additional cost in energy savings. Of course, after the payback, you continue to save on your energy bills for the life of the system. Learn more about environmentally friendly refrigerants.

One other point to keep in mind is that your air conditioner is a "split system," which means that there is an outdoor unit (condenser) and an indoor unit (coil). If you’re replacing an existing system, both units should be replaced to make sure your new condensing unit gives you optimal performance, efficiency and comfort.

Comfort
Some air conditioners offer additional features that provide greater comfort (as well as additional energy savings). Two-speed units can run on low speed (using 50% of the energy) up to 80% of the time, so they operate more quietly and run for longer periods of time than single-speed models. Longer operating periods translate into fewer on/off cycles, fewer drafts and much smaller temperature swings -- only two or three degrees instead of the four-degree swings common with single-speed units. Plus, better air circulation helps prevent air "stratification" — warm air rising to the ceiling and cold air settling on the floor. In short, you get consistent, even cooling throughout your home. If you purchase a multi-speed or variable-capacity furnace or fan coil with your unit, you will enhance both the comfort and the efficiency of your air conditioning system even further.

Sound
There’s a good chance you won’t ever think about the sound level of your air conditioner ... until, that is, you try to enjoy a quiet conversation with some friends in your back yard. Sometimes noise from condensing (outdoor) units even interferes with your peace and quiet indoors, so it’s a factor you should at least look at when you’re comparing different models. The sound level of outdoor units is measured in bels (similar to decibels), on a scale from 0 (barely perceptible sound) to 13 (the threshold of pain). Most air conditioners operate at 8 to 9 bels; some units’ ratings are as low as 6.8. That may not sound like a wide range, but consider this: 9 bels sounds 10 times louder than 8 bels. That means one 9-bel air conditioner is as loud as 10 units rated at 8 bels. So we think taking the time to compare bel ratings is pretty sound advice.

Learn more about Carrier Air Conditioners and the Trane Air Conditioners.