Air Conditioner Discounts in Winter Months
Demand for air conditioners is at its lowest in the cooler months, so retailers often find themselves overstocked with window units. To encourage shoppers to buy, appliance stores routinely offer discounts to lure customers into buying during the offseason. Purchase last year’s floor model, and you may save even more. Prefer to shop online? Expect online retailers to offer similar savings. No one wants to pay to store items that aren’t selling.
Best Time to Install an Air Conditioner
If you’re installing a new central air conditioning system, you’ll often get a better deal if you do it in the fall or spring. HVAC installers tend to be busiest in the winter and summer months when the outdoor temperatures are at their most extreme. Avoid these busy times, and you’ll have more bargaining power. Ask for a better price, or a freebie (like a nicer thermostat), and you just may get it. When it comes to negotiating the installation cost, it helps to let contractors know that you’re accepting multiple bids. This will encourage them to give you their most competitive price right out of the gate.
Window Units vs. Central Air Conditioning
A key cost consideration in purchasing a new cooling system for your home is whether to buy individual units for each room that needs air conditioning or to install a central air conditioning system for your entire home. Individual window units are cheaper, even if you need to purchase a few of them. Renters, especially, will be drawn to the lower cost of window units. However, if you own your home and have a forced-air furnace and existing ductwork, the installation cost may be outweighed in the coming years by the savings you’ll achieve by using a thermostat to control the temperature.
What Size Do You Need?
Another important factor that affects the cost of your air conditioner is how much power it puts out. If you’re purchasing a window unit, you’ll want to select one that has a power output corresponding to the size of the room that needs cooling. An air conditioner’s power is measured in British thermal units or BTUs. A higher number indicates a more powerful unit, but it also means it will be more expensive to purchase and operate. Because of this, it’s smart to try to buy what you need and no more. Below are general guidelines to help you select the correct power output for your room:
Small room (100-300 sq. ft.): 5,000 - 6,000 BTUMedium room (250-550 sq. ft.): 7,000 - 8,200 BTULarge room (350-950 sq. ft.): 9,800 to 12,500 BTU
Additional Ways to Save Money
In addition to purchasing the best-priced unit and selecting the correct size, there are other ways to save money and maintain a cool, comfortable temperature in your home. First, during warm months, keep shades and curtains drawn on sunny days, thereby preventing additional heat from entering your home. Also, when not in use, fans in bathroom and kitchen areas should be turned off. Otherwise, they’ll pull cool air out of the house. Another easy way to save money in powering your units is to set the desired temperature just a bit higher than you’re accustomed to. Even a few degrees can save you quite a bit on your monthly power bill. It’s important to make sure your air conditioner filters are cleaned or replaced regularly. Ceiling fans can be a relatively inexpensive way to make the most of the cool air emanating from your air conditioner, as they do an excellent job of circulating air. Lastly, look for air conditioners with the Energy Star symbol. This voluntary program allows manufacturers to identify units that are the most energy-efficient. For more tips on how to cut the costs of air conditioning of your home, check out:
44 Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill How to Make Your Air Conditioner Work More Efficiently
