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!

Need Air Conditioning In Sudbury? Find The Right Unit Here!

This week’s heat wave in Sudbury had us all escaping indoors for some much-needed A/C!

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a heat warning for Sudbury on Monday. Since then, temperatures have risen to the high 30s with the humidex!

While they’ve let up a bit near the end of the week, this isn’t the last we’ll see of extreme heat and humidity this summer.

According to the official 2023 summer forecast, Ontario can expect a changeable summer. Hot periods will persist but will be graciously broken up by frequent cold fronts. Suffice it to say that more 30-degree weather is en route.

Is your A/C able to keep up with the demand?

For many old, reliable air conditioners, they just can’t take the heat!

Or maybe you've never had A/C before. Is this intense heat making you think twice about investing in home cooling?

 If you read our last blog, you’ll know A/C is the #1 way to protect against heat-related illness. Air conditioning helps fight off and control heat and humidity, which can heop protect you during even the most intense heat wave.

Whether you’re in the market for your first system or a replacement, our team at Campeau Heating is here to help!

3 Popular Types of Air Conditioning Units

We make choosing air conditioning in Sudbury, Ontario, easy and affordable.

Explore your options below!

Central

A traditional air conditioner typically refers to a central unit.

This type of A/C is a whole-home cooling solution. As long as it’s sized correctly, it is powerful enough to cool your entire house!

Central air conditioning is also considered quite luxurious - for more reasons than one.

Benefits of a Central A/C:

• Fast and effective cooling
• Enhanced energy efficiency
• Minimal noise
• Improved indoor air quality
• Increased comfort

These cooling systems are incredibly durable and long-lasting too. With the proper A/C maintenance, they can last 15-20 years!

How Does a Central A/C Work?

The system comprises two units - one indoor ventilator and one outdoor condenser. They work together to pull in warm air from within your home, convert it to cool air, and then return it.

To deliver this newly cooled air throughout the home, central A/C requires ductwork and vents.

Cooled air travels through the ductwork and releases through vents - effectively cooling each room!

Ductless

A ductless air conditioner work similarly to a central. But its goal is quite the opposite.

Instead of cooling the entire home, ductless systems provide zoned cooling.

Zoned cooling individually treats different rooms (zones) in your home. It allows you to control the temperature of each of these zones separately!

Many buildings and areas benefit hugely from this cooling system. A few examples include apartments, garages, spare bedrooms or cottages!

Let’s break each area down:

Apartments and spare bedrooms both have guests living in them. Having these areas controlled by personal preference ensures those occupants experience optimal comfort.

Garages and work sheds aren’t used as frequently. So they don’t need constant temperature control. But having the option to cool the space down during a big project can make a huge difference!

Lastly, cottages are the top choice for a ductless A/C system. They are especially popular in seasonal cottages, which are usually unoccupied for much of the year. Air conditioning is only needed here during cottage season (May - September). Cottages are typically smaller and only require cooling in specific rooms as well. This makes ductless A/Cs the more practical and energy-efficient choice!

Benefits of a Ductless A/C:

• Space saving
• Easy installation
• Increased energy efficiency
• Personalized comfort
• Great indoor air quality

How Does a Ductless A/C Work?

A ductless air conditioner works much the same way as a central system. Each unit has a fan and evaporator that connects to an outdoor compressor via refrigerant lines.

The air cools as it travels through the refrigerant lines to the compressor. Once cooled, it returns to the indoor unit to circulate the room.

There is no need to install ductwork or vents within your home. Just a few holes to fit the refrigerant lines through, and that's it!

Geothermal Heat Pump

Did you know? Geothermal is one of the world’s greenest, most energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions!

These systems draw thermal energy from the earth's surface to cool your home. In doing so, they can save 20-50% on cooling costs compared to conventional systems.

Benefits of a Heat Pump:

• Lower operating costs
• Quiet operation
• Low maintenance
• Increased home value
• Environmentally friendly

How Does a Heat Pump Work?

While it may seem odd to cool your home with the earth, we promise the process is 100% effective!

Outdoor temperatures vary based on season and time of day. But underground temperatures (a few feet below the surface) remain consistent.

Your heat pump can convert this thermal energy into efficient cooling using either,

a) A closed-loop system or

b) An open-loop system.

Another cool thing about geothermal systems is that they can provide cooling and heating! They even do so in a variety of forms!

Whether you want a forced air, radiant or hot water heating system, your geothermal heat pump can do it!

Learn more about how a geothermal heat pump works.

Choosing The Right A/C Unit For Your Home

Selecting the right A/C for your home can be daunting.

With so many options available, how do you know which is best for your home, budget and lifestyle?

At Campeau Heating, our cooling experts are always ready to help you find the best A/C.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an A/C:

• Budget
• Energy efficiency standards
• Home size
• Noise level
• Maintenance Needs
• Available space
• Desired features

These factors help guide the decision-making process. This ensures you choose the right system for your home.

Cool Down This Summer With Campeau Heating

Are you looking for reliable air conditioning in Sudbury? You’ve found it!

At Campeau Heating, we service homes, cottages and businesses with the best cooling products!

Ready to cool down? Give us a call!

Reach our office at (705) 560-2441 or contact us online.