If you’re like a lot of people in the Twin Cities area, you’ve already decided to invest your tax refund in your home. One home improvement that can actually pay you back over time is the purchase of a new air-conditioning system that will work hard to keep you cool and comfortable all summer long.
Air-conditioning systems are an investment that typically last for several years, or in some cases even decades. While this is a good thing overall, it can mean that by the time you replace your air conditioner, you’re paying way more on your utility bills than you have to due to the amount of energy that your old air conditioner is using.
A modern air conditioner can reduce your energy usage by 20 to 40 percent over air conditioners made 10 or more years ago, and that amount increases the older that your system is. The less energy that you use, the lower your energy bills will be. When shopping for a new air conditioner, you should pay attention to the energy efficiency, or SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating of any units that you’re considering. SEER measures the cooling energy that a system provides compared to the energy that it consumes.
A high-efficiency air conditioner can provide as much as 30 percent better efficiency over older models. Systems manufactured today must have a SEER of at least 13. Generally, the higher the SEER rating, the better your energy efficiency (and cheaper your utility bills) will be.
If you want to maximize your investment, consult with an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) expert to ensure that you are buying a correctly sized air conditioner for your home. Modern air conditioners provide the same amount of cool air in a smaller unit, so you can’t just depend on the size of your old unit. Buying the wrong size, whether too large or too small, will reduce your savings. Too large units cycle on and off rapidly as they reach the set temperature too quickly, and too small units struggle to ever reach the set temperature. Both situations use energy and cost you money.
For expert advice on all HVAC matters in the Twin Cities area, contact Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve proudly served you since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioners and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning services Minnesota’s Twin Cities. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!