The best of Air conditioning

Best Air Conditioners

There isn't a best air conditioner, or a best AC brand or manufacturer.

You may try to get a good air-conditioner through consumer reports and reviews. If it is what you want, you may use ConsumerReports.org or Furnace. com. They have tested large sets of air conditioners to see which models are easiest to use, or more energy-efficient.

But be aware. The best solution can be different from what you get by choosing that way. The best AC solution also depends on your specific needs, on your climate or on how much you want to spend or to save, or on your eco-awareness or on how you want to cool your home and the type of air-conditioner that responds best to it... And will be different if you are about to build a new home, or if your options involve changes in your home insulation levels, or its landscaping...

Best AC Manufacturers and brands

There are good or very good manufacturers and brands. Frigidaire, GE, Kenmore, Haier, or Friedrich have excellent window AC models. Sanyo is excellent in ductless mini-split air conditioners. Rheem or Lennox have also excellent and qualified central and window/room AC models, etc.

But that doesn't mean much. The best manufacturers have also AC models that are simply reasonable or good or even weak. And their new models aren't largely tested by time yet.

Besides, do not forget that there are several types of air conditioners - portable, window/room AC, central, ductless mini-split air conditioners... - responding to different needs and with different impacts on energy-efficiency.

And it is all this that makes finding the best AC manufacturer or brand, or even the best AC model, an impossible task.

For a large list of manufacturers and brands, see: Good AC brands and AC Manufacturers.

Best air conditioner sizing tools

An oversized AC is a bad option: it will cycle on and off more frequently, causing indoor temperatures fluctuate more and lower energy efficiency. Sizing your AC system or your AC unit is very important, and the Net offers some software and calculators to help you to get it... Most they are also just very basic tools, that do not help much. See for an example: Home Depot Air Conditioner Calculator.

ConsumerReport.org has a much better tool, for window air conditioners. See: Sizing Window Air Conditioners.

Instead of these calculators and software, you may consider a good AC Size Chart, based on as that of Energy Star. Just do not forget to also consider some basic adjustments to the values.

the most efficient air conditioners

Most well-known brands have high-efficient air conditioners within the several models of their offer. See Best AC Brands and Manufacturers in the enter above.

But that is just a very small list. If you have a special sympathy for a given brand, go ahead with it. Just choose an high-energy-efficient model, and do not forget some basic clues when doing it. Choose a high-rated air-conditioner model: look for qualified models with high EER/SEER ratings (EER and SEER are measures of the air conditioners energy-efficiency), taking into account the UE eco-labeling, in European countries, or Energy Star in USA, Canada or New Zealand and Australia. Do not choose a central AC with a SEER less than 15 or a window AC with a EER less than 12.

Just do not forget to consider some general AC buying rules and clues, namely those involving the type of air conditioner and the definition of your needs and the size of the AC you want. And also do not forget some green alternatives (listed below)...

best green alternatives to air conditioners

If you live in a moderate dry climate, consider evaporative coolers. They are much cheaper to operate than air conditioners.

If you live in some hot climates, air conditioners are too expensive and environmentally-unfriendly. Natural ventilation or shading strategies are better solutions (see: AC Cooling in hot climates).

If you are going to buid a new home, you may reduce your air-conditioning needs to very low levels, or even eliminate it. High levels of insulation, good home design, landscaping and shading can provide that... See: Cooling for New Homes.

You may also reduce your air conditioning needs, by using strategies connected to shading like overhangs, or awnings. You may also consider roof membranes, to cool your roof and to reduce the heating coming from it.

These are the best green alternatives to traditional air conditioning. Do not forget that air conditioning is responsible for many billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

Other - mostly future - alternatives include solar air conditioners.

Best AC Technical information

Toolbase organization has a wealth of information about HAVC. See: Toolbase and HAVC.

Natex (AC North American Technician Excellence) and ASHRAE (the HAVC organization) offer also plenty of information on AC. For a slightly less technical approach, see: AC Natural Resources Canada.

best ways to find aC incentives, grants, rebates

There aren't many tax incentives, grants and rebates to air conditioning installation. In America the existing AC tax incentives iare disappearing. You may try to see if your state is still supporting high-efficient air conditioning (or heat pumps)...

Canada
In Canada, see: Office of Energy Efficiency Grants and Incentives

USA
In USA, see: Energy Star and tax credits information.
Data on federal incentives in USA, see: DSIRE USA
Local tax incentives, see: DSIRE

Australia
See: Energy Rating Australia Government

UK
See: Energy Saving Trust

best way to find certified AC contractors and technicians

Searching dealers and installers through manufacturers

The main AC manufacturers can help you to find dealers, contractors and qualified technicians near your home. Just call them or look for on their sites.

If you do not already have a good relationship with a contractor you can trust, try searching through HAVC organizations:

North-America: ACEE (North America) and Natex (American Technician Excellence) and ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) or even Resnet (USA).
Europe: European HAVC Associations.
Australia: Energy Rating Australia Government

Best AC products on big home improvement stores

Home Depot or Lowe's have some good brands on their HAVC offer, and some very basic AC buying guide information (see: Home depot and Lowe's) or some accessories (like filters).

They may offer you free in-home consultation and can help you select the equipment, or assist with obtaining permits and licenses (central AC), seasonal tune-ups, assistance and also financing. That can make them an attractive option.

Be aware, anyway. They are competitive, but if you have a good relationship with a HAVC contractor or dealer, you don't have to change. And you may always find other good alternatives to big improvement stores. Just be sure of their competence and aknowledge. Even serious AC dealers and contractors can be unfammiliar with new AC developments and, in that sense, incompetent. To find good and qualified AC contractors and technicians see the enter How to Find AC Contractors.

Best AC saving methods

The best two methods to get AC savings from your existing AC unit or system is 1) regular maintenance and a 2) proper use of a programmable thermostat. See AC savings.

Ventilation, shading (overhangs, awnings), or good home design, landscaping and insulation are structural approaches that will reduce air conditioning to minimum levels in new construction. See: Cooling and Air Conditioning.

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