If you live in a hot climate, you probably use your home's air conditioner on a regular basis during the summer months to keep the interior of your house cool and comfortable. Unfortunately, air conditioning units do not last forever, so you will eventually have to replace yours. Since a new air conditioning unit is a big investment, it is important to be prepared and know what to expect before you spend any money. Thinking things through will help ensure that you buy the right air conditioning unit for your home and get a good value. Always consider the following things before you replace your home's air conditioner and schedule an air conditioning installation:

Size

Most people do not know a lot about residential air conditioning units, so they are not aware that they come in different sizes. Thus, you should never randomly order an air conditioning unit if you do not know the exact size that you need. Ideally, you should have an HVAC contractor visit your home and assess your air conditioning needs to determine the proper size. The size of your home's air conditioning unit will depend on several factors, such as interior square footage that needs to be cooled, the type of duct system that your home has, and the layout of the duct system. The last thing you want is to buy an air conditioning unit that is too small and can't properly cool your home.

Budget

Replacing an air conditioning unit is a big expense for most households, so it is important to budget appropriately. Your air conditioning system budget should include two things — the cost of the unit itself and the cost of installation. Installing a new air conditioner is not a DIY project that a homeowner can do — air conditioning installation should always be done by a licensed HVAC contractor who has extensive installation experience. Before you purchase a replacement air conditioning unit, make sure that you also have enough money set aside to pay to have it professionally installed.

Warranty

When it comes to a large monetary purchase like a new air conditioning unit, buying a product with a good warranty is essential. Thus, don't select your new air conditioner based on price or reviews alone — you should also check out the warranty terms to ensure that they are favorable. In addition, always ask if an HVAC contractor offers a guarantee or warranty on installation labor to ensure that you're protected in the event that there are any issues down the road due to how the air conditioning unit was installed.