Tips for a More Efficient Central Air Conditioning System

There many actions that can be taken to improve your A/C efficiency of your home or business. Commercical or residential we find that too often customers own a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that is too large or too small for their home or business. Heating and cooling your home can often be complex and confusing. With all the terminology and choices, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to find the system that best fits your home’s needs.

High-efficiency systems can provide much-needed relief from rising utility bills and energy costs, while also helping you do something positive for your community and the environment. The average household will pay $2,300 this year on energy costs, with heating alone accounting for almost 45 percent of that total. (Source: Alliance to Save Energy).

Schedule preventative maintenance before the summer cooling and winter heating seasons begin. Asking a professional to check your system will increase the life of the system, improve energy efficiency, reduce pollutants and save money.
A dirty filter can restrict airflow and increase energy use in your home. Replace or clean filters once a month during operating seasons.

Programmable thermostats, are designed to maximize the performance of your home comfort system with reliable and accurate temperature control. The average annual savings for programmable thermostats is about $100, and they often pay for themselves in two years or less.

Many home owners are focused upon what the previous A/C contractor has sold them or installed with the label reading 22 SEERS, 18 SEERS etc. on the air handler or condenser unit. Package or rooftop units have the same labeling of an HVAC air conditioning unit that is rated as a high SEER device in the box; however, when the unit is installed in a home, the efficiency the system actually delivers in the home varies due to certain home variables. For example efficiency can go down due to factors such as mentioned earlier wrong size system, home attic insulation, home total R-value, Home orientation, window size, old windows, doorways, improper air flow, mismatched coils and leaking ducts. These are reasons why it is important to make sure your HVAC system is installed properly so you’re getting the most efficiency possible from your system.

Rated efficiency applies to HVAC systems that are rated in laboratory conditions assuming the refrigerant charge and system airflow is 100 percent accurate. Applied efficiency is what the system actually delivers once it’s charged and installed in your home in real world conditions.

Seventy percent of HVAC systems do not have the correct air flow - which impacts energy efficiency (according to the Environmental Protection Agency).

Almost 74 percent of HVAC systems have an improper amount of refrigerant - which can impact performance by up to 15 percent - resulting in higher energy costs, reduced reliability and faster wear and tear because systems do not operate at maximum efficiency.

Potential energy use comparing an 8-SEER system to a 20-SEER high-efficiency system. Actual energy savings will vary depending on many factors including your lifestyle, system settings, maintenance, climate and installation.

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