Why is a High Efficiency Air Conditioner a Good Investment for Connecticut Homeowners?

Installing a high efficiency air conditioner has a surprising amount of benefits, and those benefits go beyond simply lowering your energy bills. But would you know how to identify a high efficiency unit if you were choosing a new air conditioner for your home? Today we’re going to help you distinguish high efficiency air conditioners from lower-efficiency models and go over the many benefits of installing one in your home!

How does an air conditioner qualify as a high efficiency unit?
The best way to determine whether or not an air conditioner is a high-efficiency model is to look at its SEER rating. A SEER rating describes how efficiently an air conditioner converts the energy it consumes into useable cool air for your home.

In order to qualify for the Energy Star label, an air conditioner must have a SEER rating of at least 14.5. Air conditioners with the Energy Star label are about 15 percent more efficient than conventional models.

But is just qualifying for the Energy Star label enough to categorize a unit as a high efficiency air conditioner? As concerns about energy-consumption grow and air conditioners improve in design and efficiency, many experts suggest that a SEER rating of 16 and above is a better standard for high efficiency units. In addition, air conditioners are available with SEER ratings up into the 20’s.

What are the benefits of installing a high efficiency air conditioner?
Lower energy costs. The most obvious benefit of installing a high efficiency air conditioner is that it saves you money on your energy bills. The more efficient your air conditioner is, the less energy it needs to operate and the lower your energy costs will be. The amount of energy you save will depend on the efficiency of your current model. The larger the jump in efficiency from your old to your new air conditioner, the more of a decrease you’ll see in your energy costs.
Improved home comfort. Many of the features that come with high efficiency air conditioners will provide your home with better comfort levels. A variable speed air handler, for example, will allow for more consistent airflow and a two stage compressor will allow for less temperature swings in your home.
Fewer repairs. High efficiency air conditioners typically experience less wear-and-tear than lower-efficiency units. When less stress is placed on your air conditioner, the need for repairs can significantly decrease. Fewer repairs over the lifetime of an air conditioner will increase the value of your investment in a high-efficiency unit.
Longer operating life. Because they experience minimal wear-and-tear, high efficiency air conditioners typically have longer operating lives than lower-efficiency units. This is another benefit that increases the value of your investment in a higher efficiency unit.

If you have any questions about a high efficiency air conditioner, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Silver City Furnace, your local air conditioning company.