Hopefully in your lifetime you won’t have to purchase too many air conditioners. They can last upwards of 20 years, but with quickly changing cooling technologies it is important to learn about the factors that can help you pick the best system. This involves comparing the cost with lifetime costs. Here are some factors you should look at when you purchase an air conditioner.
First Cost
This is the price that is listed on the price tag. Although this is what most people solely rely on when purchasing a system, it doesn’t give the full story of all the costs associated with owning the cooling system. When a system’s seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) goes up, so does the price tag. An air conditioner with a higher SEER employs more advanced technologies that help lower energy consumption. You can expect the energy costs of a system to go down as the SEER goes up.
Lifetime Costs
This is a factor that not too many people think about when purchasing an AC. Lifetime costs will be how much you will pay in years to come. This factor goes along with the quality of a system. Most of the time, the less you pay for a system up front, the more you will have to pay over time. Paying more upfront usually means that there will be lower lifetime costs. Equipment that costs less is usually lower in quality. This typically means that there will be a low purchasing cost, but high operating costs. On the flip side, more expensive equipment is usually higher in quality so although you might pay more for it upfront, you won’t have to spend as much in operating costs.
When shopping for an AC make sure to look at this factors to see how you can spend the lowest amount of lifetime costs:
Quality: The higher the quality, the less likely you will spend a lot of money in lifetime costs. High-quality systems usually last longer and have a lower energy consumption. Although they will generally have a higher price tag, you are getting a machine that will last long and save you in energy costs.
Maintenance: A high-quality machine usually means that it will not need a lot of maintenance over its lifetime. Lower-quality parts might mean that you have to spend more on operating costs.
Energy: There will be more advanced technology used in high-efficiency AC’s. These are the key to energy savings. New technologies meant that your system will be able to run continuously at lower speeds meaning there will be less energy consumptions. Energy savings will save you in the long run and will make up for the higher initial cost.
So when you’re shopping for a new air conditioner, be sure to look beyond the price tag and you will be able to save money in the long run. Call Gillece today and one of our best Technicians can talk to you about your options when it comes to purchasing a new air conditioner!
