If your air conditioner finally gave up and called it quits, it's time for a new unit. The last thing you want to do is go through the entire summer without an air conditioner. However, before you invest in a new unit, make sure you choose the right one for your home. It's not enough that your new air conditioner will blow cold air when you need it to; you've also got to make sure that your new air conditioner suits your needs and your home. Here are three things for you to consider when choosing a new air conditioner for your home.

Room or Whole House

When choosing an new air conditioner for your home, the first thing you need to do is decide if it will be for room-to-room, or whole-house cooling. If you want to keep the whole house cool – and at the same temperature – you're better off with a whole-house air conditioning unit. However, if you're looking for more of a room-to-room system, and you don't want to deal with installing new duct work, you might want to go with a mini-split, ductless air conditioning system. This type of system allows individual air conditioning units to be installed in each room, which ensures individual cooling capabilities. Not only that, but you don't need to deal with the duct work.

Ground or Rooftop Installation

If you're going with a whole-house air conditioning system, you'll need to decided where to mount the unit. You can choose either a ground installation or a rooftop installation. If you're concerned about the security of your air conditioner, such as there have been recent thefts of AC units in the area, you'll want to go with a rooftop installation. However, if you deal with scorching heat during the winter, or snow and ice during the winter, you'll want to go with a ground level installation for your new air conditioner.

Wiring Requirements

If you have an older home, you'll need to consider the wiring requirements for a new air conditioner. The best way to ensure a safe installation is to have your wiring inspected before you have your new air conditioner installed. An electrician will be able to determine whether you should have your wiring updated before you proceed with the installation of your new air conditioner. Installing a new air conditioning system with outdated wiring, could result in an electrical fire. Play it safe and have your wiring inspected first.

For more help, get in touch with a company like AC 180 Air Conditioning & Heating.