If you’ve just suffered through one of the hottest summers on record in the area in which you live and you didn’t already have air conditioning, you might be thinking very seriously about changing this by the time next summer comes around. So to help ensure that you’re making this decision with your eyes clear about exactly what this may entail for you, here are three things to consider before installing central air conditioning in your home.
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Your Current Heating System
One of the things you’ll want to think about first is what the current heating system is in your home. If you already have a forced-air system for your heating, you can likely use those same ducts for your air conditioning and save yourself a lot of money. But if you don’t already have forced air or duct work throughout your home, you’ll likely have to pay more money for this work to be done as part of the installation of your air conditioning unit.
On the other hand, if you’re wanting to go with a ductless because you don’t have any duct work throughout your home, this option is available to you. So before you set your heart on getting air conditioning put into your home, make sure you know what type of work this will require so you can get a handle on the total bill you’ll be looking at.
Your Current Circuit Breaker
Another part of your home that you’ll want to check on before installing an air conditioner is your circuit breaker.
Especially if you’re living in an older home, you’ll want to make sure that the circuit breaker you’re currently using will be able to support the additional energy of an air conditioner. If it can’t, you’ll want to replace the circuit breaker before you install the air conditioner so that you won’t have to worry about electrical issues when running your a/c unit.
Time Your Installation Right
Luckily for you, the time is right for looking into getting an air conditioning unit because the heat of the summer is likely past for many areas. This means that there is less demand on those companies that are installing and repairing air conditioning units, which means their peak pricing will start to fall soon. So if you’re serious about getting an air conditioner before next summer, make sure you get things moving before it starts getting warm again so you can take advantage of off-season pricing and availability.
If you’ve been dreaming about spending your summers in your cool home rather than sweating yourself to sleep each night, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you effectively plan and prepare for this home improvement project.