Our customers often ask us what they stand to gain by upgrading to a higher-efficiency air conditioning system. Here at Home Comfort Inc. in Dallas and Salem, OR, we have done air conditioning installations, repairs, and maintenance for 70 years. Our customers often save quite a bit of money each month on energy bills with an upgraded AC unit. There are a number of other benefits when you replace an older unit with one that has a higher efficiency rating.
How Higher SEER Ratings Help You Save Money Each Month
SEER rating stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This is a number consumers can use to find out the energy efficiency of different air conditioning systems. Each AC unit has a SEER rating. Many older air conditioners only have a SEER rating of around 9 or 10. All cooling systems sold today must have a SEER rating of 14 or above here in Salem. These new units will save you an average of 35% on your energy bill every month compared to an older unit.
You can use a SEER calculator online to determine which new air conditioning unit will save you the most money. The SEER rating of your current AC unit is on the tag of its indoor unit. The SEER calculator will more accurately gauge your monthly savings with a newer unit.
Technological Advances That Save You Even More Money
Older air conditioning units don’t have some of the advanced technology in today’s systems. For example, zone air conditioning can save you even more energy with your unit. A zone air conditioning system will allow you to control the amount of cooling directed into each room of your home.
Variable-speed air conditioning systems often run around 30% of full speed. This helps you target the temperature better and leads to fewer warm swings in your home. A traditional air conditioner runs full blast every time it turns on.
Two-stage air conditioning systems have a high and low speed. They’re a bit cheaper than variable-speed systems. They also keep your house at a more targeted temperature and tend to eliminate hot spots.
Both two-stage and variable-speed units remarkably save energy even though they run longer than traditional air conditioners. The reason for this is that they’re running at a far lower speed most of the time. This also eliminates humidity in your home that many experience with a traditional air conditioning unit.
Reliability
I’s better to install a newer air conditioning unit with higher energy efficiency because of its reliability. Issues begin to crop up in aging units over time. One big issue is that systems begin to struggle to keep up with your demands for cooling. This means they may not be very reliable when the days get hotter in July and August. A more efficient unit will be reliable and keep up with your thermostat’s demands to pump out more cool air.
Better Indoor Air Quality
Let’s say you bought your home from someone who didn’t maintain the air conditioning unit. There’s a very real probability that the unit could begin spewing out fungi, mold, and bacteria spores into your house. A new unit will prevent that issue, especially if you call us for regular maintenance after installation. We’ll keep your equipment clean and in top working order.
Greater Resale Value If You Intend to Move
If you plan to move, you may be predisposed to keep your older air conditioning unit. If it’s running strong, that’s likely a good choice. But if it’s older, would a potential buyer try to get a reduction in price because of its age or condition? Also, the new owner acquires the warranty for whatever time is remaining A warranty on a new air conditioning unit might persuade a buyer to choose your home over another property.
Save Money on Repairs
Older air conditioning units usually need frequent repairs. Items such as condensers and evaporator coils can cost thousands to repair. Sometimes, the cost of repairs equals or exceeds the cost of a new unit. You can save money twice with a new, high-efficiency unit. You save by not spending money on repairs, and you also save on lower electricity costs each month.
The warranty that comes with a new air conditioning system will cover repairs on major parts of the unit. Often, such warranties last for 10 years. Even people who finance the new unit will have paid off the amount owed long before the warranty expires. All that time, they’re covered if there are problems with the new AC unit.
Parts and Refrigerant Will Be Available When You Need Them
A new issue that has emerged over the past several years is a US government regulation banning certain refrigerants. R-22 Freon and the refrigerant HCFC-142b are the two in question. The former is the refrigerant used in most older air conditioning units. As of January 1, 2020, no one in the United States is allowed to produce or import either of these two refrigerants. The decision to ban these refrigerants was made by the US Environmental Protection Agency because R-22 and HCFC-142b have been found to harm the ozone layer.
Since 2020, we’ve only been allowed to add either of these two refrigerants to service existing air conditioners. We’re allowed to use the remaining stockpiles of the refrigerant that we or our suppliers have. We can also recycle or reclaim R-22 refrigerant from existing units that are being decommissioned. We have new procedures to follow when we perform any servicing on R-22 refrigeration units. We have to utilize special refrigeration recovery equipment. As you can imagine, the banned refrigerants will only be more expensive to purchase over time. As more consumers replace these R-22 systems, manufacturers will begin to phase out production of some parts for them as well.
This new government regulation may directly impact your decision as to whether to install a new air conditioning system. Pressing questions include if your existing AC unit uses a banned refrigerant, our ability to get R-22 refrigerant, and its current cost. You need to know if other parts your system may require are still available. We’ll provide the current facts to help you make the best decision about your current cooling system.
Reach Out to Home Comfort Inc. in Dallas, OR
We’re your local air conditioning experts at Home Comfort Inc.. We serve residents of Dallas, OR and the greater Salem area. Our technicians can install, repair, and maintain heating systems like furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, and geothermal systems. We also help customers who need to improve their indoor air quality. We handle ductwork and custom sheet metal installations, too. We’re proud to be a commercial HVAC company as well. You’ll also be glad to know that we’re accredited with the local Better Business Bureau. For more information or to schedule an appointment for HVAC services at your home, contact Home Comfort Inc. today.
