Installing a new air conditioner in your home is a significant investment and one that you will have to live with for years to come. Getting the most bang for your buck requires proper research and care before your contractor arrives to install your hardware. While an HVAC expert will be able to guide you through some of this process, it helps to come to your first meeting prepared.

If you're ready to put a little knowledge to good use, then keep reading. Below you'll find three steps you should always take before your initial meeting with your installer.

1. Do Your Homework

Installing a new air conditioner will require you to learn more about your home. Most importantly, you'll need to know the total square footage of the conditioned area. When calculating this value, it's vital that you only consider areas that will be cooled by the system. If you plan to leave some finished spaces unconditioned (such as a family room), then they shouldn't be included in your total.

Remember that square footage isn't the only characteristic of your home that an installer must consider when sizing a system, but it is one of the most essential. You will help your contractor immensely by having this information on hand.

2. Know Your Budget

When it comes to air conditioning capacity, follow the Goldilocks rule: not too big, not too small, but just right! A system that's over- or under-sized will operate inefficiently and may suffer from a variety of maintenance issues. Your contractor will determine the proper BTU value of your air conditioner based on your home's square footage and other factors that impact the cooling load.

You won't have much wiggle room on sizing your system, but your budget can impact the efficiency of your new unit. Higher SEER value air conditioners are more efficient and can save money over the long-run, but they tend to cost more upfront. Knowing your budget can help to ensure you strike the right balance between equipment price and long-term operating costs.

3. Prepare Your Questions

It's a good idea to prepare any questions you have for your installer ahead of time. If you're concerned about your home's current ductwork or think you need to upgrade your system, then prepare for these discussions in advance. Knowing what you want to ask can help you focus during your meeting and get the answers you need to make the right decisions for your home.

Ultimately, a small amount of preparation can make your install process proceed much more smoothly and quickly. A professional installer can take the information and questions you've prepared, and use them to recommend the best system for your home and budget. Click here for info about having a new AC system installed in your home.