Best central air conditioning units 2024

Table Of Content

• How do I calculate what size air conditioner I need?
• Need a new central A/C unit? We've covered the best type, brand, and price range on the market.
• How many square feet is a 2.5-ton AC unit?
• American Standard
• By Unit Size
• The Best Air Conditioners Tested in 2023
• Opinion: Heat pumps cut costs and pollution. So why isn’t it easier to install one in California?

However, Carrier offers more intelligent cooling options, and York builds some of the most durable and quietest ACs. This is Amana’s highest efficiency unit, with a 24.5 SEER rating and a variable-speed compressor that links with the company’s ComfortNet technology for programmable performance. This unit also includes a lifetime unit replacement limited warranty when registered. Bryant is the go-to choice for 4.5% of the market, and this is mostly due to the unit’s reliability. However, customers often complain about the high costs and low warranty periods.

How do I calculate what size air conditioner I need?

When we shipped out our test model to another Wirecutter staffer for long-term testing, it ended up getting damaged in transit. Despite the cracks and dents on the outside of the unit, this blemished AC still worked like new. During our tests, the Frigidaire Gallery maintained a more consistent temperature throughout the room.

Need a new central A/C unit? We've covered the best type, brand, and price range on the market.

This makes them a good choice for many who wish to get a good value for their money. However, we can’t claim that the brands offers the best value for money because of its unreliable evaporator coils, and extremely slow heating capabilities. EfficiencyThis describes how much cooling the unit delivers for each watt of electricity. Efficiency is expressed as the seasonal energy-efficiency rating, or SEER.

How many square feet is a 2.5-ton AC unit?

Usually, a central air conditioning unit will create about 70dB of sound, similar to that of a washing machine mid-cycle and louder than the average person talking. If you’re sound-sensitive and would rather pay more to forgo excess noise, look for units with decibel readings of around 50 dB. If you're in the market for a central air conditioning unit, we've created this guide to the best options that you can buy right now. We've included brands such as American Standard and Rheem, which vary in SEER rating, models, and budget.

Replacing ACs with heat pumps: A backdoor way to decarbonize heating - Canary Media

Replacing ACs with heat pumps: A backdoor way to decarbonize heating.

Posted: Tue, 11 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The condenser requires a flat surface to work properly, so a rooftop unit works well for homes on uneven terrain. Built-in or “through the wall” air conditioners can be installed for permanent placement and can heat and cool. Wall air conditioners are ideal for areas of your house that may not be connected to the central heating and air system, such as a garage. You can also consider an air-source heat pump in place of an AC-only system.

The GE Profile is shaped like a lower-case “n,” with a 4-inch-tall bridge that carries the cooled air from the outside compressor to the indoor fan, which spreads it around the room. That bridge is the only thing that sits on your window sill, so you can pull your window all the way down (less those 4 inches) and then open it up again … whenever you want, without any complications. Designed for rooms of up to 450 square feet, the GE Profile Clearview PHNT10CC is larger and more powerful than our other picks.

By Unit Size

But access to lifesaving cooling devices and the ability to cover the costs of electricity during a heat wave are often out of reach for low-income and elderly residents on a fixed income. Now, city staff are studying the costs and feasibility of cooling off all rental units citywide. If your central air is nearing the end of its life, potential home buyers may be more hesitant to make an offer knowing that they’ll soon need to pay to replace the system. On the flip side, if you’re replacing an old system, you likely won’t need to budget for new ducts, but you will need to budget for the removal of the old system.

The Best Air Conditioners Tested in 2023

The new LG LW8024IVSM looks like an updated version of our former top pick, the LG LW8017ERSM, with an even higher efficiency rating. We plan on testing it soon, along with an even larger variant, the LG LW1222IVSM. While Smart Home (that’s the name of the GE app) has all the basic controls you need, and they’re easy enough to find, we found making any adjustments incredibly tedious.

Opinion: Heat pumps cut costs and pollution. So why isn’t it easier to install one in California?

Those tenants can and should approach their landlords if they want to have a cooling device installed in their units, he said. Buying a home with a newly installed HVAC has quite the opposite effect; homeowners will appreciate how new and efficient it is, and the warranty is an added bonus. If your house does not currently have central AC, you might have difficulty selling it at all. A 2.5-ton AC unit is ideal for about 1,250 to 1,500 square feet of space. On average, every 500 to 600 square feet of space requires 1 ton of cooling power. Various factors, including ceiling height and how well-sealed the home is, can impact this estimate.

It’s not practical for Consumer Reports to test them because there are so many variables, including a home’s size and design, how the system is installed, and the construction of the ductwork. Have a multi-story house with a top floor that’s always hot, even when you crank the central AC? It may be more cost-effective to keep the central air you have for the rest of the home but install a ductless mini split system in the attic. On average, installing a ductless mini-split AC costs $4,000 per unit.

Additionally, Brie writes for and manages a team of writers at The Tour Guy, where she fills her travel plans with new places to explore, stay, and eat around the world. Brie Is also the founder of The Editing Academy, which empowers aspiring professionals with the necessary skills to become proofreaders and copy editors. Some summers are hotter than others, but if a homeowner has noticed a much higher energy bill than usual, their AC unit may be working harder but less effectively.

Seven units from the company are available, featuring useful tech like onboard diagnostics and Eco-Net-enabled systems. Plus, you get a 10-year parts and labor warranty, which can save you money over time. Couple that with energy-saving costs on the SEER rating, and you could find yourself getting a very good deal here. Many models are built with the future in mind, offering Wi-Fi connectivity which allows you to control the system from your smartphone. A really helpful feature if you want to save money by turning off or down the system when out, but having the option to get cooling as you return so it's ready - at temperature - for when you arrive home.

Amana central air conditioners are neither good nor bad in terms of their noise performance. The Amana ASXC16 is the HVAC manufacturer’s most silent unit, going as low as 45 dB under optimum conditions while staying at only 55dB under normal conditions. Carrier central air conditioners are quiet compared to other brands, and are serviceable in most states without any hassle. Lennox central air conditioners are the perfect cost-saving companion, especially its XC25.

It’s quieter than most other non-inverter ACs, and it cools the room quickly and efficiently. Also, it typically costs less than our other picks while offering comparable performance and smart-home capabilities. Look for the ENERGY STAR® rating when choosing an air conditioning unit. ENERGY STAR-rated air conditioners meet EPA and DOE energy efficiency guidelines and use 10 percent less energy.

This has led the HVAC manufacturer to face criticism as other manufacturers’ flagship units perform extremely well in terms of noise. American Standard central air conditioners are small and sleek, thus being a good fit for all mobile homes. The brand’s maintenance costs are also low due to the units’ acceptance of generic parts. For example, if you don't want to pay to have a full HVAC system installed, you might be better off with a less expensive ductless system. Consider the energy efficiency rating of each air conditioner to determine which option is best based on its initial price and monthly operating costs. Rheem is the ideal brand for those who require high efficiency with low running costs.

Also, take note of whether the company provides certified installers, either in-house or through a network of dealers. You can buy an AC with all the bells and whistles, such as an internet-accessed monitoring system and smart thermostat. Consider what features and convenience level you want and compare them with the brand’s price tags to find a middle ground. Most companies offer a five-year limited warranty for parts but will commonly increase this to 10 years if you register their products online. We encourage you to register your AC unit with its brand to get the most out of your investment. Its most efficient and best-performing model is the Infinity 26 Air Conditioner with Greenspeed Intelligence.