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What Efficiency Should I Purchase?
Remember:
The higher the seer rating the more efficient the unit will be. This
will effect the operating cost. This number does not make it any cooler.
The minimum SEER rating
allowed to be sold today is 10. Models with SEER ratings of 13 or better are recommended.
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Mr. Geiger,
I just wanted to send a note to say
that I am very pleased with your
staff and the way the installation flowed. Joe was very nice
and quite helpful and so was Ken. The install team did a
great job and were very neat.
Thanks again, Nancy
Reihl
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This can save you hundreds of dollars on the
price of your new system. Remember, the savings will continue
for years to come, since a high-efficiency system means lower
electric bills month after month. So while a high-efficiency
cooling and heating system may cost a little more up front
compared to a less efficient system, you'll recover the price
difference in a very short time.
Click here
to view the table, which shows the savings possible on your
electric bill when you replace an existing inefficient air
conditioning system will a higher efficiency system. *
Table1: 
This chart is calculated for a 36,000 BTUH (3-ton)
system with a cost of KWH of 8 cents. If your system or cost
per KWH is larger or smaller, you can still get an idea of
just how significant your savings can be.
Remember our area electric rate is
over 14 cents per KWH not 8 cents. Your savings will be approx 87%
greater!
To determine how much you'll save each year,
find the point where your present system's Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Ratio, or SEER (top of table) meets the SEER of
the new system you are considering (left side of table).
(Equipment installed before 1980 generally has
a SEER rating of 7 to 8. SEER ratings also decrease over the
life of a unit. To get the exact energy-efficiency rating
of your existing unit, you may wish to contact an air conditioning
contractor with the model numbers of your indoor and outdoor
equipment, or look at the energy-efficient label on equipment
installed after 1988.) For example, if your existing system's
SEER is 7, and you replace it with a system that has a SEER
of 11.5, you'll save $507 a year on your electric bill.
Geiger can evaluate your existing system and provide options,
pricing and discuss energy savings if you upgrade to a higher
efficiency system. The consultation will be free and without
obligation.
Perform Regular Service and
Maintenance
Now
most manufactures require this to maintain warranties!
In many cases, an air conditioning system is
taken for granted, receiving little or no maintenance unless
the unit breaks down. If a system is neglected, there is a
gradual loss of efficiency, which can add to operating costs
without your knowledge.
Tuning up the air conditioning system, just
as tuning up a car, can reduce the operating costs and prolong
the life of the equipment. Before the hot weather arrives,
schedule a tune-up with a service professional for your air
conditioning system to make sure it is operating as efficiently
as possible and that it has enough refrigerant to cool properly.
Low refrigerant can make the unit run more often and could
double your cooling costs. Have the professional inspect and,
if necessary, oil fans and motors on the condensing unit and
the inside evaporate unit.
Remember to clean the filters every month and
the coils and fins once a year. Clean filters keep dirt out
of the return air duct vent and out of your air conditioning
system. If dirt gets into the system, the system doesn't run
as efficiently, and that costs you money. A dirty filter that
causes a 10% reduction in airflow can increase operating costs
by 11%.
*Based on 2800 annual cooling hours, 3-ton
(36,000 BTUH) A/C, and 9 cents per KWH.
Remember our area electric rate
is over 14 cents per KWH!
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