You may have heard about the new efficiency requirements for the air conditioners that are being manufactured today. And if your air conditioner is aging or not working well, or if you’re just concerned about the amount of energy you’re using to cool your home or the amount you’re paying for it, you might want to know more. How are air conditioners being made to be more efficient? How efficient are they? And should you get a high-efficiency AC unit for your home?
We’ve got some facts for you that might help you make that decision.
SEER Energy Ratings
The way that the efficiency of air conditioners is measured is a method called SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It’s determined by dividing the amount of cooling provided by a cooling system over a cooling season (measured in BTUs or British Thermal Units) by the amount of energy that same system uses over that same time period. In Georgia, like the rest of the southern US, that number needs to be 15 or higher in order for the AC unit to be installed in your home. But some air conditioners have even better SEER ratings—as high as 25!
How Air Conditioners Are Made to Be More Efficient
These levels of efficiency are amazing. There have been some major innovations in the HVAC industry that have made this a reality.
For one thing, the materials that AC coils are made of has changed. The coils contain the refrigerant, so they operate most efficiently if they are able to change temperature with ease, and the new materials do that, making it so the refrigerant can absorb more heat from your home and release more heat outside without using any more energy.
Also, older air conditioners had two settings: on and off. Highly efficient models today have multi-stage compressors and variable speed fan motors, allowing them to operate at an energy-saving level the majority of the time, only kicking into a more energy-intensive mode when it’s absolutely necessary.
Determining Whether to Get a High-Efficiency Air Conditioner
Now that you know how they work, how can you decide whether you should get one? There are a variety of factors.
For one thing, consider the age of your air conditioner. If it’s only a few years old, you might not want to upgrade yet. But if it’s already ten or twelve years old, it won’t last much longer anyway, and its efficiency is probably already declining.
Then there’s the consideration of whether your air conditioner needs repairs. Putting a lot of money into an AC repair is an investment. Do you want to keep investing in your existing air conditioner, knowing its age? Or do you want to put that money toward AC installation in Cumming, GA and get a new, more efficient system?
The best way to come to a decision is with some professional guidance. A member of our team would be happy to discuss your current AC system and your concerns about it, and provide information about some new options that would work well for your specific home and the needs of the people in it.
To speak with a member of our team, contact DC Cheek Heating, Cooling & Plumbing today. Fixed, At the Speed of Life!
