Replacing an older heating and/or air conditioning system means that you can save money on monthly energy bills, but only if you find an efficient replacement for your worn-down unit. We’ve got your guide to saving money on a new installation below!
Check the Efficiency Rating
Look for the ENERGY STAR seal on new heating and air conditioning systems, and be sure to check efficiency ratings, like the SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio), HSPF (heating seasonal performance factor), and the AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency). Look for:
- AC units with a SEER of 16 or higher (14 is the minimum).
- Heat pumps with a high SEER and an HSPF of 8.5 or higher.
- Furnaces with an AFUE of 90 or higher.
Consider Upgrading to a Heat Pump
A heat pump is one of the most efficient systems you can own, using refrigerant to absorb heat from place to place. And it’s a heating and air conditioning system in one! The standard central air conditioner is a type of heat pump because it moves heat from one place to another—from the air inside of the home to the outside.
But a conventional split-system AC does not have the reversing valve of a heat pump, which allows refrigerant to move heat from the air outside to the air outside to the indoors for whole-home heating. This process of moving heat is highly efficient—more so than heat production by combustion or electrical resistance.
Replace an Entire System at Once
When a repair or replacement part is going to cost around half of the price of a brand new system, it simply isn’t worth it. Having mismatched parts on your heating and cooling system can decrease efficiency, and it will void any warranty you would otherwise have on a new system and on the old components. When major components of an older system start to break down (for example, the outside condenser portion), it’s typically better to replace the entire unit at once, not just one part—and it will save you more over time.
Cool Tech Mechanical is a customer satisfaction oriented company, and we always recommend the best possible solutions for our customers. Call today to get our award-winning customer service in Grand Prairie.
