Purchasing and Owning an Energy-Efficient Air Conditioner

When you're shopping for central air conditioners, look for SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) numbers of 13 or more. The higher the SEER number, the more money you will save.

The efficiency of central air conditioners is measured by the air conditioning unit's seasonal cooling output in Btu divided by the seasonal energy input in watt-hours for an average climate. Many older central air conditioners have SEER numbers of only 6 or 7. To qualify for an ENERGY STAR label, units require a SEER of 13 or higher.

High-efficiency, ENERGY STAR units generally cost more, but more efficient units can pay for themselves through reduced electricity bills. Newer units can use up to 50% less electricity than older air conditioners.

Central air conditioners are usually more efficient than room air conditioners. However, sizing your air conditioner to meet your home's needs is very important. Larger units will not operate efficiently if they are over-sized - they will cycle on and off frequently rather than running for longer more efficient periods.

When purchasing a central air conditioner, please consider a member of HRAC Brant. HRAC member companies meet stringent industry standards by providing proof of trade licenses, fuel safety licenses, valid insurance, worker’s compensation and more as part of the membership criteria.

If you have a central air conditioner, consider these tips to help reduce your electricity bill:

• Keep grass clippings and other debris away from your outdoor air-conditioning unit.
• Keep furniture, carpeting and draperies away from vents and grills in the home.
• Change or clean your furnace filter once per month (depending on the type of filter).
• Use a programmable thermostat, which allows you to cool your home only when you need to.
• It is not a good practice to open the windows at night to let in that “cool humidity laden air”.
• On hot humid days, it is normal for the indoor temperature to rise a few degrees because the unit is working harder to remove the moisture in the air.
• Keep west-facing drapes or shades down in the afternoon.
• In some cases, it may be advisable to keep your furnace fan running continuously to keep air moving.
• Have your cooling system checked annually by a HRAC Brant member. This will ensure that your air conditioning works efficiently and will not let you down when the heat is on!