ac services 7/27/2020 – gtg
Understanding Efficiency
What is S.E.E.R? This stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Basically this ratio is the efficiency rating of a particular A/C system. The higher the ratio the more efficient the system. A standard-efficiency system today is 10 SEER and can, in some cases, go as high as 16 SEER. The major difference between different systems is the condenser size. The condenser is the outside unit. The larger the condenser the more efficient the unit. The reason for this is very simple. Your compressor takes in gas and raises the temperature and pressure of the gas to the condensation point. The pressure on the compressor is tremendous. This compression stroke is where the most energy is used and in turn, where your electric cost to cool comes in. If the pressure in this area can be reduced, then the compressor draws less power to do its job. Large condenser coils accomplish this task. More area for the refrigerant to be compressed into reduces the pressure and reduces the power required to do this. There are many factors to consider when buying high efficiency. One is the size of your home, the bigger the home the more you will save on energy, Two, how much you really use your central A/C system, Three, the size and condition of the homes duct system, Four, the condition of the furnace or air handler. The reason to consider these factors is time for “payback”. If the additional cost for a super high-efficiency system as opposed to a standard system is $900.00 and you use the system for three months out of the year it may take as long as ten years to recoup the initial cost of the upgrade. Meaning if you save $100.00 per season, you are looking at nine years for payback. High-efficiency systems are a great thing, but not in every case or every home. If you have a small ranch-style house with say 1200 sq ft, I would not suggest such a system for you. Your payback time may well exceed the life span on the system itself. In short, consider all these factors when you are ready to purchase a new comfort system.
Your Thermostat
The thermostat is the main controller of your home heating system. It basically is a switch. Controlling when and how often that switch goes on affects the cost to heat your home dramatically. Using a set back type stat that sets the heating system back at night or when the house is not occupied is a great way to reduce heating costs. Using these types of stats is very simple, just remember don’t go overboard, reduce the temp by no more than 8 degrees, any more then that is counterproductive, causing the heating system to run too long to reach comfort levels. Also never use setback in the summer. Doing this will cause higher utility bills. Consider the temp swings in winter, 70 degrees indoor 30 degrees outdoor, 40-degree temp difference. Summer 95 outside temp, and 70-degree indoor temp, 25-degree difference. This means less need for a setback.
====================gtg
