Central air conditioning is much more convenient and comfortable than cooling your home with window units. Although it's a big expense to have air conditioning installed, it is worth it for your enjoyment and for raising the value of your home if you ever want to sell it. An HVAC contractor will walk you through all the decisions you have to make when you buy a new air conditioner, but here are some of the things you need to think about. 

Choosing The Right Size

Buying the right size unit is an important step. If it is too small, it will run more than it needs to and may not keep your home cool. You might think getting as large of a unit as you can afford is a good idea then, but buying an air conditioner with an output that is too large for your home is just as inefficient. A contractor will assess your home and consider the insulation and square footage to determine the ideal size for your new AC based on your climate. Buying your new HVAC from the contractor could be the best choice. However, if you want to buy the unit on your own and just let the contractor install it, be sure you know how to calculate the right size before you buy.

Insulating Your Home

Another thing you want to consider before you invest in a new central air conditioner is the insulation in your home. You may want to put down more fiberglass insulation in the attic and seal up gaps around doors and windows first so your air conditioner doesn't have to run more than it should due to poor insulation. If your home is insulated well, your AC will be more efficient and it will cost less to run. You don't have to invest a lot in insulation since fiberglass insulation is affordable and you can buy spray foam insulation to seal gaps. If you have the budget, you can invest in high-end insulation and improve energy efficiency even more.

Installing Ducts

When you install central air, you'll need to have ducts installed as well. You need to decide on the type of ducts you'll have put in. Metal ducts are the most durable, but you can also choose coil ducts if there isn't much space in your attic. If installing ducts is a major issue, you may want to consider installing a ductless system instead. It works similar to central air, but it delivers the air through blowers mounted on the wall rather than through a series of ducts.

Another thing to consider when you have a new air conditioner installed is the electrical panel. You may need to upgrade your panel to handle the extra load. You might also need to make a concrete pad for the outdoor condenser to rest on. There are several components involved in installing an AC unit that you may not even think of, so talking to a contractor like Nova Air Conditioning & Heating is the best place to start.