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Much like a furnace, a central air conditioning system hugely impacts the energy costs of your home and is dependent upon quality installation and maintenance to perform well. Independent of installation and care, the government recommends replacing a central AC unit after 12 years. Switching to a modern, energy efficient model can substantially reduce the amount of electricity your home consumes.
Product Types
How It Works
Like room air conditioners, central air conditioners are evaluated by the relative amount of energy required to generate a specific cooling output and earn a certain seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). Whereas many older systems have SEER ratings of 6 or less, new standards require ratings of 13 or higher. Efficient models are available with ratings upwards of 16.
Installation and maintenance are integral to an air conditioning system; a well-trained contractor will evaluate your home’s size, ducts, and sealing in order to recommend the proper size and type of system.
Low Cost Savings Tips:
- Make sure to clean indoor and outdoor coils before warm weather starts. Dirty coils are inefficient and will raise your bills and lower the lifespan of your system.
- Clean and adjust the blower on your unit; if air flow over the indoor coil is obstructed, the equipment cannot operate efficiently or reliability.
- Check your system’s refrigerant charge, comparing it to the specifications set forth by the manufacturer. Too much or too little will reduce efficiency and damage your system.
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- Central AC systems do not operate in a vacuum; a home’s insulation, air ducts, and sealing all effect the system’s performance.
- Some models on the market today use 30%–50% less energy to produce the same amount of cooling as air conditioners made in the mid 1970s.
- Central AC is more efficient than window or wall units
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Heating & Cooling 
