Upgrade Your A/C System

Your old, inefficient Heating and Air Conditioning system is only adding costs to your ever-increasing utility bill.

Upgrade now to a new high efficiency system and possibly reduce your energy costs by 30-40% per year. The most efficient systems on the market are up to 70% more efficient than the current average. You could dramatically reduce or even eliminate the utility increases while improving your comfort level. You may even qualify for a CASH REBATE from your local utility or be able to purchase a system with NO PAYMENTS or INTEREST for up to one year (subject to availability in certain markets).

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.

Central air conditioners are rated on their seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit. The minimum SEER rating allowed to be sold today is 10. Models with SEER ratings of 12 or better are recommended.

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.

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.

Let VA Heating and Air have a quality local contractor contact you to 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

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.