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Air Conditioner Buying Guide

What homeowners should evaluate when replacing central air conditioning, including sizing, SEER2, indoor-coil matching, airflow, refrigerant, controls and installation scope.

Start Here

Make the decision based on the complete system

The outdoor condenser is only one part of a central air-conditioning system. The indoor coil, blower, metering device, refrigerant piping, ductwork, controls and drainage all affect performance.

Do not assume the old tonnage is automatically correct. Changes to windows, insulation, additions or ductwork—and mistakes in the original design—can change what the home actually needs.

Compare complete matched systems and installation scope rather than shopping by outdoor-unit model or SEER2 number alone.

Buying Factors

What deserves attention

Capacity

Cooling capacity should be selected from the home's load and equipment performance, not simply copied from the old nameplate.

Matched indoor equipment

The condenser, evaporator coil and furnace or air handler must be compatible and capable of delivering the intended rated performance.

SEER2

Higher seasonal efficiency can reduce energy use, but purchase price, climate, runtime and installation quality determine actual value.

Airflow

The blower and duct system need to move the airflow required by the selected cooling equipment.

Refrigerant system

New equipment must use the refrigerant and components specified by the manufacturer, with proper evacuation and charging.

Humidity control

Capacity, staging and airflow influence run time and moisture removal.

Installation Matters

The equipment label is only part of the purchase

Correct sizing, component matching, airflow, refrigerant setup, electrical work, drainage, controls and duct-system condition all affect how new equipment performs after installation.

A higher-efficiency unit installed into a poor air-distribution system can still deliver poor comfort and disappointing real-world performance.

Compare Proposals

Compare scope—not just the bottom-line price

Two proposals can use similar equipment while including very different labor, accessories, warranties, duct modifications, electrical work, permits and commissioning procedures.

Ask contractors to identify exactly what is included, excluded and assumed.

Related Guides

Continue your research

Homeowner Tools

Check the numbers before making a decision

Use Central HVAC's homeowner tools to estimate system age, develop a preliminary replacement budget and review the scope of a contractor proposal.

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SmartQuote IQ™

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