Go Beyond Online Reviews When Buying an Air Conditioner

Reading air conditioner reviews online is often the jumping off point for homeowners looking for a new system or a company to install it. Unless they’re written by an expert, there’s no way to know if the product reviews are accurate, legitimate, or reliable.

Air conditioners are complicated, at best. Even reviews written in plain English can be confusing, especially if you’re delving into the subject for the first time. Along with the mechanics of HVAC systems, you’ll be faced with all the product variables, abbreviations and terms unique to cooling systems.

Why It Matters

The validity of air conditioner reviews matters because these systems affect your comfort, energy bills, and sometimes safety. Selecting a contractor or a system based solely on them may result in:

A poor installation. Installing a new A/C is a complex project that requires considerable skill. Before signing a contract, check the contractor’s status online with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the BBB.

• Improper sizing. Cooling systems that are too large or small drive up energy costs, reduce comfort and don’t last as long. Only an HVAC pro can size your system accurately based on your home’s energy efficiency.
• Mismatching. The indoor evaporator coil in the air handler and the outdoor condensing coil must match each other for the lowest cooling bills, best performance and system longevity.
• Difficulty finding a contractor to install it. Legitimate contractors often resist installing systems purchased at online stores because they may not be able to honor the warranty. The warranty for an HVAC system has a good deal of value, since it protects you from mechanical issues with the system for up to 10 years.

  Saving a little money upfront purchasing a system based on online reviews may hurt you in the long run if you run into uncovered warranty issues in the future.

If you’d like more information about using air conditioner reviews to benefit you instead of mislead or misinform you, contact the pros at Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions, providing HVAC services for Orlando-area homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).