Get Cooling Costs Down Without Sacrificing Comfort
Air conditioning can become a major expense during the summer, becoming responsible for the majority of your household energy bill. It is possible to get your home’s cooling costs down without breaking the bank or sacrificing comfort, though. Here are five ways to reduce costs without lowering your indoor comfort level.
1. System Tune-Up
Efficiency declines in HVACs overtime, so a system tune-up can ensure your AC works optimally. All AC systems will drift out of factory specifications for a variety of reasons. Internal vibrations can loosen fittings and cause refrigerant loss, potentially making the compressor work harder.
Likewise, a lack of regular lubrication can cause moving parts like fans, dampers and blower motors to experience more friction. Coils can get gummed up with decaying debris, too. Even the system controls can drift out of factory specification, leading to misread temperatures. Simple things like dirty air filters can also reduce efficiency.
An AC tune-up by a professional technician addresses all these issues. Many systems lose 5-10% of their efficiency each year without attention. Our company offers maintenance agreements that include tune-ups.
2. Thermostat Upgrade
Manual thermostats often miss the true temperature by as much as five degrees. Modern smart thermostats use better sensors to get that down to a one-degree range. Upgrading to a smart thermostat also allows you to program settings, such as reducing cooling when no one is present in the home. This can significantly reduce your energy bill, especially if you work a lot.
The payback period for a smart thermostat is also surprisingly short. Depending on how advanced a thermostat you purchase, you can expect it to pay for itself through greater efficiency within 8 to 18 months.
3. Ductwork
Leaky ducts can be costly. HVACs require good airflow to maximize efficiency, and even something such as a degraded seal along a single duct can cost you money. Ductwork also frequently suffers corrosion, so quickly replacing damaged sections makes a difference. Vibrations also appear, shaking ductwork loose and creating gaps. Sealing these gaps can yield a 10-20% decrease in cooling costs in homes with major leaks.
You may also want to look at rearranging your home’s ducts. Especially if the ductwork went in before you ever bought the house, there can be unused segments that capture cooled air but can’t distribute it. Likewise, some older ducting materials may not be flexible enough to allow a direct line from the AC unit to a vent.
Swapping these ducts out can economize the overall design and reduce waste. Depending on the extent of the issues with your home’s ductwork, the payback period could be two to five years.
4. High-Efficiency AC
The seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) is a rating that tells you how much you can expect your AC to save you on cooling costs. The current minimum SEER for South Jersey and Southeastern PA is 14. An AC is usually not considered efficient if it doesn’t have a SEER of at least 16. Note that manufacturers offer models that go over 25 SEER.
A higher SEER is always better, but a higher SEER also comes with a longer payback period. Going from a 14 to 16 SEER setup will yield a payback period of about five years. Conversely, jumping to a 25 SEER will have a payback period of twelve or more years. If you’re leery about the potential upfront cost of a high-efficiency HVAC, consider it a good idea for when your system passes its expected mechanical lifetime.
5. Indoor Air Quality Improvements
While homeowners rightly focus on indoor air quality (IAQ) as a health issue, it does affect your system’s efficiency. Dust collects inside ducts, in filters and on coils. This all reduces your AC’s efficiency.
IAQ improvements reduce the amount of dust that collects on these surfaces. Not only do you get to breathe easier, but you’ll appreciate the improved efficiency that comes from running a cleaner HVAC.
JAMCO Heating & Air Conditioning has been in business since 1986. Our technicians are NATE-certified, and our company is a Lennox Premier Dealer and a Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor. We handle installation, repair and maintenance work on air conditioning systems, including ductless mini splits.
If you’re trying to figure out how to reduce cooling costs without sacrificing comfort in a home in South Jersey or Southeastern PA, reach out to JAMCO Heating & Air Conditioning today.
