The biggest mistake consumers make when buying air conditioners is getting a unit with either too much capacity or a unit that is too small for their home. There is only one correctly sized air conditioner or heat pump for your home. An unscrupulous contractor will sell you an air conditioner with too much capacity because it costs more, but the bigger disadvantage occurs once you own it.
An AC unit that is too big will turn on and off too frequently, called “short cycling”. Short cycling causes the unit to lose both efficiency, and the ability to properly dehumidify the home. This may result in higher utility bills and a less comfortable home. Alternatively, a unit that is undersized will run too often, and on the hottest days of the year may not be able to adequately cool the home.
A Manual J calculation is essential for determining the appropriate capacity. Manual J, published by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), is a method for calculating the design cooling load and correct system size. Do not accept bids over the phone or the Internet. Like other home improvement projects, a contractor should measure rooms, windows and insulation levels to perform a Manual J load calculation. A contractor should review the load calculation with you. Note that building codes in many jurisdictions require Manual J calculations.
Capacity is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). The specification is most commonly expressed in tons. Sometimes you’ll see BTUs per hour (a ton equals 12,000 BTUs per hour). A range of two to five tons is typical for a house.
While some northern climates allow homeowners to do without air conditioning all year long, owning and using an air conditioner is a must for the majority of home owners. With scorching hot summer temperatures reaching well above 90 F in a majority of the United States, utility bills rise just as fast as the temperatures. Here are a few tips on how to conserve electricity while running your air conditioner, without spending money.
If your air conditioning unit is not shaded, think about planting some trees to shade over the unit or building a wooden trellis above the unit (be sure not to block the vents on the unit however). While some reports state that placing the condenser unit in shade may only save up to 5%, that’s 5% you’ll save and it will help hide the unattractive unit.
Another recommendation is to make sure you get your AC unit inspected once a year, preferably in the spring. Air filters should be looked at every other month, if you can’t see through it, change it.
Duct work in the attic needs to be sealed properly. Homes lose 15% to 20% of their cooling through leaks in their duct work. Staying in the attic, adding additional insulation will also help keep cool air in your home.
Use awnings, curtains or blinds to keep out direct sunlight. Turn the thermostat up a few degrees and turn on the ceiling fan. The ceiling fan electricity only costs about a half a cent per hour.
A few more tips to reduce energy costs in the long run if you’re willing to spend money now:
- Buy new replacement windows for your home. Energy Star Certified Windows come with Low-E and Argon gas which help reduce the solar heat gain. This can save you up to 30% a month on energy costs.
- Buy an Energy Star Certified Air Conditioning unit, which uses up to 40% less electricity than older models.
Follow a few of the tips and you’ll be saving some money in no time!
If you’re looking for a way to save the planet and save money at the same time, Energy Star Certified Central Air Conditioners are a priority, especially if you are purchasing a new unit in the near future. If your central air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old, replacing it with an ENERGY STAR qualified model could cut your cooling costs by 30 percent.
Not every new Air Conditioning unit is Energy Star Certified. In order to earn the label, the product must meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.
While the initial cost of Energy Star Certified models can be more expensive, they are about 14% more energy efficient than standard models.
It is important to note that an energy efficient unit is only as good as the contractors installing the unit. A good contractor will install the unit properly, ensuring all air ducts and your home are sealed properly. If done wrong, it can erase the positive effect the energy efficient unit would have on your energy savings.
Central air conditioners are not normally sold directly to consumers. They must be installed by licensed contractors. Pricing is usually a package deal, which includes the air conditioner, ductwork, labor, permits and whatever else is needed for your installation. Prices vary, depending on both the quality of the air conditioner and how much labor is needed. Like many home projects, installation and related costs are usually going to cost more than the air conditioner itself.
Depending on the size of the unit, how much duct work is involved and other labor and parts necessities, a new air conditioning unit could cost you anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000. Manufacturers themselves don’t reveal estimated installed costs. Experts agree that prices vary by region, and possibly even within a region. One of the best ways to gage pricing is to ask any friends or neighbors that have similar floor plans or similar size houses what they paid for a new unit. Remember that some contractors don’t include all costs in their pricing so be sure bids include all costs, including any government fees (such as permits) and disposal of the old unit.
If you’re wondering whether a new AC unit is worth the money spent, here’s something to think about. Modern air conditioners use up to 50% less energy, for home cooling, than air conditioners made in the mid 1970s. Even if your air conditioner is only 10 years old, you can save up to 40%, in energy costs, by replacing it with a new AC unit. These numbers can fluctuate depending on your situation and region so be sure to ask the neighbors or friends how much they’re saving with their new ac unit.
One big difference in prices between brands could be warranties and guarantees. Most central air conditioners have ten-year limited warranties on the compressor and five-year limited warranties on all other parts. Contractors usually offer one-year warranties on the installation. Some offer lifetime warranties as a marketing tool.
Both manufacturers and contractors offer a variety of warranty and service options. Some companies offer transferable warranties on your choice of parts, labor or both. Installers usually offer service contracts. That probably is a good idea, considering that annual maintenance is recommended for any central-air system. The guarantee of work allows contractors to discount per-service prices with a package deal. However, if you don’t plan to stay in your home indefinitely, an extended service contract might not pay off.
A quick overview of some things you should know when looking at buying central air conditioning units. Central air conditioners need to be installed and connected to ductwork, and performance depends on the size and condition of your home, the climate where you live and other factors that make comparative testing impossible. Central Air units are located outdoors, typically on the ground or roof (for buildings) and offer less noise inside the home than a free standing air conditioning unit (window unit).
One of the first things you want to do is to find a few reputable contractors in your area that you can work with. The ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) website offers several online resources that can help with that. A printable worksheet includes questions to ask, and weights the importance of everything a contractor should do. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy also provides good advice for selecting a central air conditioning contractor, and recommends efficiency levels for new equipment.
While we won’t specifically recommend brands of air conditioners to our readers, there are several sites out there with great research teams who can provide specific information on which contractors might be the best fit for you. If you want to minimize energy use for environmental reasons, GreenGuide.com is the best source. On the other hand, a majority of experts believe that you aren’t likely to break even on the extra expense of a more efficient central air conditioner. It’s analogous to buying a hybrid car: your cost of use will be lower, but you aren’t likely to save enough money during the life of the product to offset the higher purchase price. Experts do say that if you are replacing an old inefficient central air conditioner, you can come out ahead in long-term cost. The government publishes a SEER (Seasonal Energy-Efficiency Rating) figure for all models, and some earn an ENERGY STAR designation. SEER is a comparative indicator of a central air conditioner’s efficiency.
