What to know when purchasing and installing an air conditioner
While an AC may seem like a simple purchase, the wrong choice could end up costing you more money and leaving you with a hot room. Before making a purchase, experts say there are things to consider. As we expect unbearable heat in the coming days, some are already getting their ACs installed in preparation.
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'We usually run it during the day because I have pets, so I want to make sure that they're staying cool,' said Julie Fabbri-Norton of Brimfield.
Experts shared that the best way to choose which AC is best for you is by determining the square footage of the room. To see how much energy it takes to cool down the room, you'll need to select an AC unit with an appropriate BTU rating, which can be found on the AC unit box.
'You wanna make sure you have the right amount of energy usage,' said Brian Bowler, Marketing Director at Rocky's Ace Hardware. 'You're not wasting energy with a more powerful air conditioner that is going to do more than what you need for a room, but also you don't want one that's too small. It's not going to cool the room.'
Some other factors to consider are how much sunlight is entering through windows, especially in rooms with large windows, which adds to the heat load inside the room.
'You might want to increase that BTU requirement by about ten percent,' Bowler said. 'And conversely, if it's a cool room that's shaded, then maybe you don't need quite as much. That's another area you can look at.'
To make an AC last over the years, this requires maintenance. Bowler said it's a good idea to clean away any dust particles or debris in the unit, and when it comes with an air filter, to replace and clean it often.
To find the most high energy-efficient unit, you'll want to look for ACs with an Energy Star rating. In Massachusetts, a $40 rebate is available when you purchase one.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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