Annually, Americans use 183 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and pay over $22 billion so air conditioning will cool their homes, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Central air in average homes uses over 2000 kilowatt-hours of electricity every year. In warm climates, that can represent as much as 70 percent of summertime electric bills. So selecting the right air-conditioning system to replace your old or failed unit is essential. Experts offer advice on picking the appropriate size, a major consideration, to cool your whole house well.

Understanding BTUs

Size refers to an air-conditioning unit’s ability to generate cooled air ― not its physical dimensions. Because manufacturers offer various capacities, understanding the traditional rating method is helpful. The HVAC industry measures every air conditioner’s chilled air production in BTUs (British Thermal Units) per hour as well as tons. Each BTU indicates heat or cold output. It represents the energy amount that’s necessary to change the temperature of a pound of water a single Fahrenheit degree. A ton equals 12,000 BTUs per hour, which is the energy amount required to dissolve a ton of ice over a day.

Bigger Isn’t Always Better

Choosing an air conditioner to suit your home’s size is crucial. An undersized unit will be unable to handle your home’s load requirements, so reaching comfortable temperatures on very hot days will be impossible. Likewise, an overly large unit will cycle on and off too often. The resulting poor air-dehumidifying process will lower your comfort level. Undersizing your air conditioner slightly is better than oversizing it.

Other important factors include your location’s climate, home’s insulation, and family’s A/C usage. For estimating purposes, each 400 square feet of interior living space

will need around a ton of capacity if your older home has marginal insulation. For instance, a 5-ton system would cool 2000 square feet. A smaller unit could serve a newer house with better insulation. For efficient operation, balancing the airflow into and out of every room carefully also is vital.

SEER Ratings and Energy Efficiency

The HVAC industry rates each central air conditioner according to its seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), which designates the relative energy amount required for specific cooling outputs. While older systems ranked at 6 or under often, today’s minimum allowed SEER rating is 13. That standard applies to air conditioners manufactured after Jan. 23, 2006. The latest benchmark upgrades efficiency by 30 percent in comparison to the previous SEER minimum of 10. Consider an Energy Star air conditioner with a higher SEER for a better price.

An energy-efficient A/C unit offers significant power- and cost-cutting benefits. Compared to those available in the mid-1970s, current top brands’ best performers deliver equivalent cooling amounts with 30-50 percent less energy consumption. Replacing your air conditioner with a newer, high-efficiency model after just 10 years could lower your cooling expenses by 20-40 percent.

Professional Installation Is Key

Contact Cooper Climate Control for a free air conditioning replacement estimate. Fill out the online form or call 480-460-7417 so we can come out to evaluate your cooling needs and recommend the best option for your home. We consider everything from home and unit sizes and energy efficiency to your budget and preferences. You’ll receive a detailed competitive quote on an affordable unit from a top manufacturer with flexible financing plans. Professional installation will enable your air conditioner to operate effectively for around 15-20 years with simple routine maintenance.

Reducing Your Air Conditioner’s Load

During summer heat, your air conditioner works harder by running more frequently for longer intervals to maintain your home’s comfort. Additional methods that minimize your interior temperature can curtail your air conditioner’s effort and thus your utility bills. To decrease your system’s load, try these measures:

Replace or clean air filters regularly. Clogged filters limit air moving through your system, reducing efficiency.

Limit midday endeavors that increase the air’s humidity level. Besides making you feeling warmer, your air conditioner will have to work extra hard to remove extra humidity from interior’s air. So reschedule showering, clothes washing, and cooking for earlier or later times whenever possible.

Consider various improvements to decrease the heat gain in your home. Use ceiling fans to create breezes. Cover sun-facing glass doors and windows with draperies, blinds, shades, and/or heat-reflecting films. Add more insulation or radiant barrier in your attic. Long-term savings and comfort will outweigh initial investments.