Your 2023 Air Conditioner Buying Guide

Your air conditioner is your ride-or-die. When things heat up to 30+ degrees in the summer, it’s typically your only saving grace!

But what happens if your air conditioner breaks down? Or if you never had one in the first place?

Suddenly your dreams of a relaxing summer at home turn into a nightmare.

It’s time to invest in a new, reliable A/C that will see your family through the season!

A/C’s come in different types, sizes and efficiencies. It’s important to find the unit that will serve your home and family best!

If you're in the market for new air conditioning in Sudbury, Ontario, keep reading!

In this article, we dive into the crucial factors to consider when shopping for a new air conditioner.

What Are The Different Types of Home Air Conditioners?

The first factor to consider when A/C shopping is the type of unit you’re looking for.

Many homeowners come to us saying they want A/C and are then shocked by how many options there are to consider.

“Who knew there were so many different kinds!”

A/C isn’t a one size fits all system. There are numerous units to choose from!

It's important that you select the system that will provide your home with maximum comfort and efficiency.

We understand that the selection can seem overwhelming. After all, how do you ensure you choose the right one?

That’s where our team at Campeau Heating comes in!

Our cooling experts work with each homeowner to find the best system for them.

Below are some of the different options we have available:

Central Air Conditioning

Central units are our most popular choice. These traditional systems offer a whole-home cooling solution.

Homeowners often consider them the most luxurious choice because they offer,

• Simplicity,
• Consistency and
• Efficiency.

They also last about 15-20 years!

The main thing to consider when choosing central A/C is that you’ll need ductwork installed.

Ductwork is a system of airways connecting your A/C unit to the vents throughout your home.

The result? Easy, uniform cooling within each room!

Ductless Split Units

A ductless A/C works very similarly to a central system. But does not offer whole-home cooling.

Its main draw is that it serves as a zone cooling unit!

Zoned cooling treats different rooms in your home as zones. This allows you to control the temperature of each room separately.

Some of the popular areas that benefit from ductless cooling include:

• Apartments
• Garages
• Spare bedrooms
• Cottages

Are you looking for personalized comfort throughout your home? If so, ductless is the way to go! Plus, these systems can last up to 20 years.

Geothermal Heat Pump

If energy efficiency is your main concern, this could be the cooling system for you!

Geothermal heat pumps are one of the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient cooling solutions.

They use thermal energy from the earth’s surface to cool your home - saving 20-50% on cooling costs!

These systems also increase your home value and are environmentally friendly. You can count on them to last 20-25 years!

Blog Post: Read more about these 3 air conditioning units!

6 Factors To Think About While A/C Shopping

Now that you know the different types of A/Cs, it’s time to factor in some important considerations.

Our team typically covers these 6 points when helping homeowners select a new system. While they may seem inconsequential to you now, you’d be surprised how much of a difference they make down the road!

1. Unit Size

The capacity of the A/C must match the size of the room. That’s a given.

An A/C unit can't properly cool a room if it's too small for it. There would be too much space for the unit to handle.

If your unit is too big for the room, you’re risking it wearing down faster. It would need to cycle on and off quite frequently rather than at a steady pace. This causes stress to the system and can even prevent it from controlling the humidity in your home. There just wouldn’t be enough time in its quick on-and-off cycling.

The result would be inefficient and low-performance cooling - not your ideal solution!

That’s why we always send our techs out to ensure the size of the area we’re working with.

We’ll take different measurements depending on your system choice (i.e. central vs. ductless).

For a central A/C, we’ll need to find the square footage of your entire home. Then we'll multiply that by 20 to see how many BTUhs* it needs.

If we’re working with a ductless unit, we’ll only need the square footage of the particular zone.

Other factors that affect unit size:

• Ceiling height
• Windows
• Climate
• Home facade
• Insulation
• Heat-generating appliances
• Sun exposure

Investing in a properly sized unit maximizes cooling efficiency and performance.

*BTUh: British thermal units per hour.

2. Energy Efficiency

Another huge consideration for many homeowners today is energy efficiency.

With the cost of electricity and fuel, finding an efficient cooling solution is a must. Otherwise, you’re just racking up your energy bills!

At Campeau, we strive to bring you effective home cooling without breaking the bank.

When choosing an A/C system, we look at the SEER* score of each unit. The higher the score, the more energy-efficient the system is!

*SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.

3. Features/Functions

Different brands offer different features to make your A/C more convenient, affordable and effective.

Some examples of A/C features:

• Energy-saving modes
• Performance data
• Quiet Mode
• Convenience features
• Programmable thermostats

Are there particular features you’re looking for? Discuss them with your Campeau Heating tech!

4. Noise Level

The comfort of your home is about more than just its temperature. For example, you won't feel very peaceful if your cooling system is constantly humming.

Are you looking for a super quiet system? If so, we recommend paying close attention to the decibel rating. The lower that rating, the quieter the unit will be!

You can also ask your tech for the quietest options.

5. Budget

Lastly, you’ll want to discuss your budget.

Installing brand new A/C can be a pricy endeavour. But according to our customers, it’s 100% worth it!

Let us know what you’re willing to spend! We’ll ensure your new system fits your price range.

Ask The Experts!

At Campeau, home cooling is what we do. And we do a lot of it! We’ve been in business since 1948 and have the experience to prove it.

We’ll help you find the best cooling solution for your home, lifestyle and budget.

Call us at (705) 560-2441 or request a free quote online!