Air Conditioning Season’s Just Ahead: Shop For An Efficient System

We’re about to enter the air conditioning season in Southwest Arizona, so if your current system needs replacing before the deep heat of summer, springtime is a good time for doing it. HVAC contractors aren’t as busy, and you’ll benefit from the increased efficiency through the entire cooling season.

The two most important aspects of choosing a new air conditioner are its size and its energy efficiency. Your trusted HVAC contractor likely will use Manual J to correctly size your system so that it’s not too Air Conditioning Season's Just Ahead: Shop For An Efficient Systemsmall or large. A system that’s too small will struggle to cool your home on our hottest days, and one that’s too large costs more, drives up cooling bills and doesn’t provide balanced cooling. An oversized system will short cycle, kicking on and off frequently, which wears out parts faster and uses more electricity.

The government-mandated minimum energy efficiency available for central air conditioning systems is 13 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio). This higher efficiency results in demonstrably lower energy bills, depending on the SEER of your present system. If your system has a SEER rating of 10 or lower, you can save 30 percent on your energy bills or more by installing a system with a 13 SEER or higher.

Features that increase energy efficiency in air conditioners, as well as comfort in our climate, include:

  • Variable-speed air handler. Equipped with an electronically commutated motor (ECM), a variable speed air handler or blower adapts its output to the cooling needs in your home at any given time. Usually running at a slower, more continuous speed, they provide more even cooling and better air filtration and humidity control, while saving energy.
  • Fan delay switch. This runs the fan in the air handler for a short time after the condenser shuts off, making sure all the conditioned air in the ducts is blown out into the house.

If you’d like to learn more about air conditioning systems, contact Hansberger Refrigeration & Electric Company. We’ve provided excellent HVAC services for the Yuma area since 1952.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about air conditioning and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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