Your air conditioner is an essential piece of equipment that keeps you comfortable inside your home while the outside climate is scorching hot. However, cooling systems are not built to last a lifetime. Depending on your usage and the quality of maintenance, a household air conditioner can last anywhere between 10 and 15 years. Well, in some cases, an AC may exceed that span, but one thing’s for sure: its efficiency is greatly diminished. Since heating and cooling accounts for about half of your monthly utilities, it’s important to have an energy-efficient air conditioner at home.
Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning is your friendly HVAC company in Edina MN. In this article, we offer you a few factors to take into consideration when looking for your next home comfort investment.
Proper Sizing
Not every homeowner is aware of the importance of installing the right-sized air conditioner in their homes. Most of the time, they buy whatever is suggested to them or they just pick the bigger one, hoping that it’s powerful enough to make the home cool.
Proper-sizing is critical not only in terms of comfort but also in energy efficiency and the longevity of the unit’s usefulness. When an air conditioner is too large, it tends to turn itself on and off frequently because it runs only for a short time to reach the thermostat settings. Then, it will turn itself on again to run for a short time, only a few moments later.
In other words, an oversized AC is too powerful for your home, which cools too quickly then turns itself off. This on and off-cycle leads to a significant increase in your monthly energy costs.
In addition, an AC that is too large for your home is unable to remove humidity, which is important to avoid allergies, dry skin, sinus issues, and your health in general. A properly sized AC maintains indoor humidity levels of 30 to 50 percent. But to enable your air conditioner to dehumidify your home, it should run cycles in standard lengths. Remember, an oversized AC tends to cycle on and off too frequently. If the unit is constantly shutting off, it won’t run long enough to take away excess moisture from your home.
Energy-Efficiency
Size isn’t the only factor to consider when buying a new air conditioner. You also have to look at the system’s energy efficiency. An air conditioner’s efficiency level is measured by its Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating or SEER. It determines how well an air conditioner performs in terms of consuming energy. The higher the SEER, the more energy-efficient the system. Older models have an efficiency rating of about 6 SEER, which is way lower than today’s standard of 13 SEER.
While air conditioners with higher SEER ratings inevitably cost more than standard units, their improved efficiency will help you keep your monthly energy bills low, which ultimately covers the initial cost of investment.
To ensure you have a high efficiency AC, look for a unit that has the ENERGY STAR seal of approval. This trusted, government-backed symbol for energy efficiency makes it easy for consumers to identify and purchase energy-efficient products that offer savings on energy bills without sacrificing performance, features, and comfort. ENERGY STAR-approved air conditioners lower greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants caused by the inefficient use of energy. These AC systems meet or exceed EPA guidelines for energy efficiency.
Price
A wise homeowner isn’t an impulsive buyer. The price of a brand-new AC is too significant to be taken lightly. As a major investment in your home’s comfort, you should compare prices. When looking for a new AC, be prepared to shop around and ensure that the price you pay should include not only the unit cost, but also the cost of installation, the thermostat, air filters, and other items.
Quality AC Installation with Marsh Heating and Air Conditioning
If you’re looking for a new AC for your home, be sure to give us a call. We will give you a free estimate and give you relevant information to help you make the right choice. Our over 40 years of experience speaks of our level of commitment in terms of delivering outstanding Minnetonka AC installation services. We care about our customers more than we care about making money.