Air Conditioning Repair

For anyone interested in update an air conditioner or building a new home where a new unit needs to be purchased, one of the best options is going with energy efficient air conditioning.  The cost to cool a home has skyrocketed but with this option, the savings can be tremendous.  One of the most important things a homeowner can do is learn about air conditioners, something few people research.

For anyone interested in update an air conditioner or building a new home where a new unit needs to be purchased, one of the best options is going with energy efficient air conditioning.  The cost to cool a home has skyrocketed but with this option, the savings can be tremendous.  One of the most important things a homeowner can do is learn about air conditioners, something few people research.

It is important to learn about the various designs, components, features, and operations.  The key is choosing an air conditioning system that will provide the most effective and efficient cooling for the size of home.  From there, installation and maintenance are important, which can help cut down on energy bills but without sacrificing comfort.

The good news is that there are many energy efficiency air conditioning units on the market, many that use as much as 50% less energy while still producing the same level of cooling.  Interestingly, many of the units that were sold eight to ten years ago are also somewhat energy efficient, cutting back anywhere from 10% to 40%.  However, with new technology, the level of energy efficient air condition has never been better.

Every type of air conditioning unit, regardless of style (portable, wall, or central) is rated by the British Thermal Unit or BTU, which is the amount of heat that can be removed from the space per hour.  Then, another rating that people need to understand is the ton, which equates to 12,000 BTU for every hour.

One of the most important decisions for energy efficient air conditioning is choosing the appropriate size.  To make this decision, there are a variety of factors to include:

• The size of the home
• Number of windows in the home
• The amount of shade the home receives
• The amount and type of insulation in the walls and ceiling of the home
• The level of heat generated by people in the home
• The amount of air leakage, which comes from doors, windows, fireplaces, etc

By matching the size of the unit with the above factors is what will determine the energy efficiency of air conditioning, as well as durability, performance, and even the cost.  Therefore, when choosing, it is imperative that the size match the home and various factors.  A common mistake made is that people think they need a large unit, which would give them a cooler home.  In truth, negative things happen when the unit is too large for the intended space.

For one thing, the homeowner would be paying a lot more for a larger unit.  Then, if the air conditioner is too large, the cycle for turning it off and on will be more frequent, which actually reduces the level of efficiency.  In fact, as the unit cycles on and off, the interior of the home would be warmer, not cooler.  In addition, a unit that is too large will obviously cost more because it is using far too much energy.

The key is to look for energy efficiency air conditioning by looking at the rating specific to the number of BTUs being removed every hour for the amount of power being drawn in wattage.  The best way to determine energy efficiency air conditioning is by paying close attention to the EER, which stands for Energy Efficiency Ratio.  In homes where central air would be used, the rating is called SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.

For energy efficient air conditioning, the label on the unit will provide all the pertinent information.  Typically, someone would want to look for an Energy Star label, which means that particular air conditioner has the best EER or SEER possible.  In other words, air conditioners with a high rating are the best but, they are typically the most expensive.

The thing to remember is that although energy efficient air conditioning costs more initially, it also means in the long-run, it is the better choice.  In return for the money spent, the person is getting a top quality unit that will last a long time, operate at peak performance, and cost less.  Therefore, when the monthly energy bill arrives, the amount due would be less so over the years, the money invested is recouped and then some.  For the various types of energy efficient air conditioning units, the following is great information:

• Window or Wall Air Conditioners – These air conditioners are designed to cool a room, zone, or space rather than an entire home.  The rating for these units is EER, which means the BTU per hour ranges from 5,500 to 14,000.  The goal here for the highest energy efficient air conditioning is to choose one that has an 8.0 EER rating or higher.  However, in moderate climates 9.0 is a better choice while people living in hot areas of the country should look for 10.0.
• Central Air – Energy efficient air conditioning specific to central air would have the SEER rating. In this case, the most efficient choice is a rating of 9.7 to 10.0.  Now, for extremely hot climates, people will actually find energy efficient air conditioning units as high as 17.0.