If your air conditioner is over 10 years old, the odds are it’s inefficient and possibly over-sized. If your unit is outdated, you can increase your comfort, lower your energy bills, and make your home more energy efficient by replacing your old air conditioner today. Here are some of the reason to consider a new air conditioning installation before the Long Island summer heats up.
A New AC Installation Provides More Comfort
If your air conditioning system is noisy, or no longer cooling evenly you can benefit from a replacement. If you find your home inexplicably humid or warm, your AC may no longer be up to the task of keeping the temperature down during the Long Island summer, or no longer working at its full capacity. The repairs needed to bring the system back to full capacity may cost nearly as much as a new air conditioner, and provide none of the energy and cost savings provided by a new unit.
Save Energy
If you’re replacing an old, inefficient unit with a new one you’ll really notice the difference on your energy bills. To get an idea of your potential savings, take a look at the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) number on your current air conditioning unit. If it’s 14 or below, installing a new air conditioner will definitely save you money.
What is SEER?
Your AC’s SEER rating spells out the number of BTUs of cooling energy per watt-hour of electricity. Before 2006, air conditioners had a minimum requirement rating of 10. Nowadays, all central air conditioners must have a minimum rating of 13, and those with the EnergyStar label must have a SEER rating of at least 14. The most efficient models are rated as high as 26 – but even upgrading from a SEER 10 to a SEER 14 model makes a substantial difference when it comes to annual savings. For example, an average family in Long Island expecting to pay $722 per year to cool a home with their SEER 10-rated unit could save over $163 with a unit rated SEER 14. With a SEER 18 model, you can save another $100 on top of that.
To help you calculate your potential savings use an energy calculator to see how your current AC matches up with a new system. Comparing your current energy bills with those generated by a new air conditioning installation will show the money you stand to save by updating your AC system.
Central Air Conditioning Installation: Other Considerations
If you’re worried about the potential expense of replacing your AC unit, be aware that federal tax credits and other state and local/green incentives may be available to help you upgrade to a new, more energy-efficient air conditioner. However, budgets are tightening, so it’s best to act on these incentives quickly.
Newer air conditioners are also safer for the environment, as older AC units tend to use an ozone-depleting refrigerant called R-22, which was banned by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2010. This chemical is now only available to repair old units.
Maximize Your Savings With an HVAC Overhaul
Since the cost of replacing your AC unit could be significant, it’s a wise idea to maximize your system’s efficiency by replacing your air conditioning system at the same time as your furnace. Your heating and cooling systems typically share a blower motor, and an old, tired motor will definitely reduce the efficiency of your new air conditioner. It’s common for American homes to have oversized air conditioners, so depending on how energy efficient your house is, you may actually benefit from upgrading to a smaller AC unit replacement.
Contractors
Lastly, seek out a reputable contractor such as Morania Oil of Long Island when gathering estimates for your new air conditioning installation, making sure they spend time evaluating your home properly. This means looking at your duct system, the size of your home, window types, insulation and other energy-saving factors.
Contact Morania Oil today for an estimate on an air conditioning installation on Long Island. Act now before the summer heats up!