When buying an air conditioner, you don't just drop in a dealership, pick one you liked, throw in some bucks, sign the paperwork, and voila you have the perfect AC. So much more comes into play. So, before you go out shopping, it pays to consider the following:

Size of the AC

Yes, size matters, especially in air conditioners. And when we say size, we're not talking about dimensions or proportions. Size, in air conditioners, is measured based in "tons." A ton is used to measure the amount of heat (measured in British Thermal Units or BTUs) that an air conditioner can remove in a space per hour. One ton is equal to 12,000 BTUs per hour. This means that a one-ton air conditioner can remove within an hour an amount of heat that is equal to 12,000 BTUs. The more ton, the bigger the BTU; the bigger the BTU, the bigger an air conditioner is considered in terms of size.

To make this easier to imagine, let's say you're comparing a small, compact, 5-ton unit against a 3-ton heavy, large-framed model. When you crunch the numbers, the 5-ton, compact AC is actually bigger because it can cool 60,000 BTU per hour compared with the large-framed 3-ton model that can only cool 36,000 BTU per hour. To put it simply, an air conditioner is considered big or small depending on its capacity remove heat on a specified amount of time. So, when you're buying an AC, don't just pick any size; choose the right size.

Size of the Place

Consideration on the size of AC would be impossible if you don't take into account the size of the place that you want to cool. If you have a very small space to cool, a bigger AC (in terms of ton) is not the right size. If you have a large room to cool, a small AC (again, in terms ton) is not the perfect one either. To explain, let's say you bought an oversized air conditioner. While it can quickly cool your room, your system will undergo a process called short cycling.

What happens in this process is your AC will keep turning itself on and off and on again. It turns off because it quickly reaches the temperature needed and turns on again because it has to maintain the temperature that you specifically set in the thermostat. Since the cooling process only takes a short time, the humidity from the air will not be sufficiently removed. And worse, your system will be using unnecessary energy in doing an unnecessary work.

Aside from the extra wear and tear on your system, you can expect higher energy consumption, too. Now, what if you bought an undersized air conditioner, instead? It's even worse, because you can't really expect it too cool much of the space where it is installed. The unit will just keep running and wasting energy as well. In fact, it can run for hours but it will never sufficiently cool the room even at its best. This brings us to the conclusion that the best fit is always the right fit. So, if you want to be sure what size of AC is ideal for your home, you should match it with the size of the place that you want to cool. To avoid mistakes on this crucial task, you can always ask the help of your hired HVAC contractor.

Condition of the Place

Aside from knowing the size of the place that you need to cool, it is also very important that you consider the overall condition of the room. To do this, you need to determine the specific things that might affect the cooling performance of the system. Ask yourself the pertinent questions, like "Is the room properly insulated?" or "Is the wall in the room built with a material that can absorb more heat?" Again, your HVAC expert can also help you answer these questions when they visit for inspection.

Type of Room

The type of the room where you are going to use the air conditioning system is just as important as the other considerations. Mostly this is to avoid unforeseen issues when it comes to installation. So you ought to ask yourself: "Is it a garage, basement, attic or any type of room addition?" Taking into account the type of the room will help you easily identify the type of system that you will have to buy. For instance, if the room cannot be connected to the duct system or it is way off the line of the duct network, then what you might need -as an ideal solution- is a ductless mini split system.

Now that you've determined the critical things to consider before the purchase, you're ready to take the next step, which is to determine the following:

• The type of system that you really need. You will have to ask yourself: "Do I need a window air conditioner, a mini split ductless system, a packaged air conditioner, a through-the-wall unit, a central air conditioning system, or just a portable one?" Knowing the type of system that you really need will guide you all throughout the decision-making process.
  
• The amount that you're willing to pay for the unit. Just as air conditioners vary in types and capabilities, so are the cost. Like any type of purchase, buying an air conditioner puts you in a situation of "what you can afford is what you get." Your budget, therefore, should be a major consideration when you start choosing for the right unit.
  

Once you've find out what kind of system you really need and how much you can afford to spend, it's time to make sure that you're properly prepared for the purchase. To do this, you need the most important information about the system that you're planning to buy.