Replacing your air conditioner with a more energy-efficient model could save you as much as 30 percent on your cooling bills. While efficiency and features such as programming options matter, there are other factors to consider. These factors influence your system’s overall energy efficiency, so giving them some thought will help you get a handle on high cooling bills.
Sizing – An oversized system will run frequently for short periods, a situation known as short cycling. When this happens, the system can’t remove humidity sufficiently. That’s a serious problem considering Minnesota’s humid summers. An undersized system, on the other hand, won’t have the power to cool your home on the year’s hottest days. Sizing a new A/C is a complex task because the ideal system size is influenced by your home’s square footage, airtightness, ductwork design and other factors. For accurate sizing, your contractor should follow Manual J, a cooling load calculator developed by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA).
Installation – Replacing your air conditioner gives you a chance to change the location of your outdoor condensing unit if the current location is less than ideal. The unit must be located where no plants, buildings or other objects interfere with airflow. It should be far enough away from windows that the noise won’t disturb you or your neighbors. Aim to install it in a shady area, which could reduce your air conditioning costs by 1 or 2 percent.
Ductwork – Undersized ductwork is a problem in more than half the homes in the U.S. It’s especially common in return air ductwork. The restricted airflow reduces your air conditioner’s efficiency, so in some cases, you may benefit from upgrading your ductwork. Before your system is sized and installed, your contractor should perform a ductwork evaluation to check for size, layout, air leakage and insulation problems.
To get more pro tips on replacing your air conditioner and other ways to keep your home comfortable, get in touch with us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been providing affordable HVAC services in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about replacing your air conditioner and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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