Get the most out of your Cooling system with Joe’s Heating & Air Conditioning!
Installing a higher efficient cooling unit will improve the energy consumption and comfort in your home. When selecting the best cooling system for your home, there are a few variables to consider when purchasing a new air conditioner or heat pump. Our trained specialists will assist you in choosing the right solution that best fits your budget and comfort.
What does SEER mean?
Seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) measures the cooling efficiency of the air conditioner or heat pump. It measures the output during a typical cooling season divided by the total electrical energy input during the same period. SEER ratings range from 13 to 20, the higher the number, the more efficient the equipment. Tranquility staff will explain how the SEER rating affects your savings!
Should I replace my air conditioner?
Typically, if an air conditioner has been well maintained, it could potentially have a life span of approximately 15 years. However, if your air conditioner was installed prior to 2006, it’s likely to have a 10 SEER or lower efficiency rating. New cooling units have SEER ratings ranging from 13 to 20. So, simply replacing a 10 SEER or lower unit, you could potentially decrease your cooling costs. Bear in mind, energy savings may vary depending on your lifestyle, thermostat setting, equipment maintenance, local climate, home construction and installation. Replace that older unit and save!
What makes a new air conditioner/ heat pump more environmentally friendly?
Older air conditioning/ heat pump units were built to use R-22 refrigerant, which has been forbidden to be used in the production of new air conditioners and heat pumps. The R-22 is a hydro-chlorofluorocarbon, which causes ozone depletion. Newer cooling systems use R410a refrigerant, which is a hydro-fluorocarbon that has no effect on the ozone, making the newer air conditioner/ heat pump systems more environmentally friendly. Protect our ozone, buy a new air conditioner!
Why is my air conditioner so loud?
Naturally, all air conditioners make noise when running as it contains several moving parts.
However, when purchasing a new air conditioner or heat pump, you may want to consider the decibel (‘dB’) measurement. The decibel rating measures the intensity of sound, therefore the lower the rating, the quieter the system. Often as air conditioners or heat pumps age, they become louder; time to replace that noisy unit!
How do heat pumps differ from air conditioners?
Heat pumps are designed to both cool and heat your home as it can be used all year round. Heat pumps have a higher upfront cost to purchase than the air conditioners.
When the heat pump is in the cooling mode, it takes heat from inside your home and pumps it outside. Alternatively, when the heat pump is in the heating mode, it collects heat from the air, water or ground outside and moves it inside the home. The heat pump moves heat from one place to another. During the winters, the heat pump unit may collect ice, so heat pumps have burners to melt the ice and push warm air into the home. Although heat pumps can heat, it’s essential to have a secondary heat source like an air handler or furnace for proper application. Our trained staff will be happy to assist you in selecting the right system for you.
Air conditioners are designed to draw out warm air from your home by transferring it outside, while replacing that inside air with cooler air. It uses the combination of an evaporator, refrigerant, compressor and condenser to cool your home.
What is ERR and COP mean?
The efficiency of heat pump is measured in energy efficiency ratio (EER) and coefficient of performance (COP). The EER measures the energy efficiency of cooling performance, while COP measures the energy efficiency of heating performance. The EER and COP measure the ratio of cooling/heating produced by a unit compared with 1kW of electricity it consumes. Thus, the higher the value, the more efficient the unit.
