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If your home’s air conditioner has reached the end of its life span, you may be dreading the complicated process of selecting and purchasing replacement cooling equipment. You’ll have to do plenty of research, to be sure, but the process doesn’t need to be as daunting as it may seem if you approach it systematically and follow a few helpful and proven pieces of advice.

At Home Comfort Experts of South Bend and Ft. Wayne, we’ve developed a simple four-step process to help guide customers as they shop for new cooling equipment. The four steps we recommend are:

1. Choosing equipment efficiency. The simplest way to do ensure you get energy-efficient cooling equipment is to look for the Energy Star seal. This ensures that the air conditioner exceeds government efficiency standards by at least ten percent. More efficient air conditioners tend to cost more money up front, but they also deliver significant savings on your utility bills over their life spans, a fact that you should factor into your calculations.
2. Sizing your system. One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is purchasing an air conditioner that’s too big and powerful for their needs, or too small and meek. If you get an overly powerful air conditioner, you’ll find your operating costs soaring. On the other hand, you’ll have to work an undersized system very hard to achieve the desired level of coolness in your home, which can send energy consumption skyrocketing and greatly reduce the life span of the equipment. The best way to determine the correct size of air conditioner needed for your home is to have a professional load calculation performed.
3. Selecting a fuel source. Most air conditioners run on electricity, but you should consider heat pumps as well as solar-powered or hybrid units. These alternatives are better for the environment and easier on your pocketbook.
4. Finding a reputable contractor. Gathering recommendations from family and friends will help, but at the end of the day, you want someone with extensive experience and a proven track record. We’ve been a leading HVAC contractor in northern Indiana since the 1960s.

If you need help finding new cooling equipment or have questions about the process, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to help however we can!

Home Comfort furnace, air conditioner and plumbing services the Mishawaka, South Bend, Ft. Wayne and surrounding areas of Indiana.