We’ve had a fairly cool summer this far in Boise but sooner or later it’ll get hot and you may need to replace your air conditioning system. A couple of key points to consider when getting a new air conditioning system.

Bigger is not better. Studies show that the majority of air conditioning systems are over-sized by 50% or more. These over-sized units are less efficient and wear down faster because they cycle on and off to frequently. Unfortunately, archaic rules of thumb such as “1 ton per 400 square feet” are still commonly used. Your air conditioning contractor should use a calculation procedure called Manual J to correctly size the unit. The contractor should consider the windows, insulation, air leaks and duct system to know how much heat needs to be removed from the home. Even the orientation of the home can swing the cooling load by as much as 30%.

A higher SEER rating is better. A high SEER rating of 15 or better is recommended for a dry climate. If you have a vintage 1970′s AC unit; you could expect your air conditioning costs to be cut in half.

Make sure the new unit is properly installed with both the correct refrigerant charge and flow. Often the unit was not charged or the air flow across the cooling coils is too fast or too slow which can lower the performance of the unit.