When you’re in the process of selecting a new air conditioning system, one of the important factors to consider is the lifetime costs of the new air conditioner. A strong correlation exists between the equipment’s initial cost, or its first cost, and what it will cost you to use it over the long-term. Considering how much we need air conditioners in the summer, it’s one purchase where skimping could end up costing you more in comfort, energy bills and repairs over the equipment’s life span.
What’s Behind A/C Pricing?
As you work with your contractor, you’ll find that the price of the system is related to its energy efficiency. Systems that perform better use technology that contributes to their higher cost but perform better over time. The initial cost may seem daunting, but the monthly savings on energy bills will recoup the cost of the system each time it runs.
How Efficiency Plays Into the Selection
Heat pump and air conditioners carry an efficiency rating called the SEER, short for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) established a minimum 14 SEER rating for cooling systems. Each single increase in the SEER indicates it uses 10 percent less energy under controlled testing conditions.
Choosing a system that has a SEER of 16 instead of 14 could save you 20 percent on energy bills, lowering the lifetime costs of a new air conditioner. Given the length of the cooling season in this region, that 20 percent offsets its higher first cost for months at a time.
Maintenance, Durability and Comfort
All HVAC equipment needs annual professional maintenance, routine air filter changes and outdoor condenser attention to reach its expected lifetime. However, a system that has a higher first cost uses components that help it last longer, like a dual-speed compressor or a variable-speed air handler, reducing the costs associated with part replacement and labor.
Systems that have the ability to alter their running speeds based on the need for cooling typically run at lower speeds most of the time, reducing the stress caused when a cooling system first starts.
Variable-speed components also improve comfort, since the system has time to cool your home more thoroughly in rooms farther from the air handler. It also gives the air conditioner more time to remove the excess humidity indoors — a major benefit in this hot, humid climate, since indoor humidity makes you feel warmer and is harmful to your home’s structure and contents. Considering the damage and discomfort that excessive humidity causes, better humidity control is another important factor to include when calculating the lifetime costs of a new air conditioner.
Is it almost time to replace your air conditioning system? Call us with your questions at (888) 414-4655(888) 414-4655 FREE. We’re happy to provide all of the information you need to make the best decision for you, your home and budget.
