AIR CONDITIONING PLUMBING .COM
THE CONSUMER'S INFORMATION GUIDE FOR AIR CONDITIONING, PLUMBING, AND REMODELING
AIR CONDITIONING
Your home protects you from the elements - keeps you shielded from the sun and wind, and dry when it rains and snows. Your air conditioning and heating system is what makes your protective home relaxing and inviting - cooling you from the intensive summer heat and humidity, then warming you when it’s freezing outside.
Improving the quality of your life
Whether you live in a 500 square foot apartment or a 5,000 square foot home, air conditioning and heating - often called a home comfort system - can improve the well being and quality of your life.
Like its name implies, a central air conditioner works from a central location to distribute conditioned air throughout your house or building. What’s the difference between a home comfort system and a window or wall-mounted air conditioner? Window- or wall-mounted room air conditioners or portable heaters are designed to work in small areas. A central air conditioner and heater works with a forced air furnace or heat pump to deliver whole-building comfort.
A wide variety of home comfort systemsWhat Is Air Conditioning and Heating
From basic, energy-saving models to sophisticated, technology-based systems, there are a wide variety of home comfort systems to choose from. Heating and cooling system installation requirements differ depending on the type of your home or building. Some homes were designed for split systems, with the air conditioner or heat pump outside and the furnace or air handler with cooling coil inside. While other homes were built to accommodate a single package unit outside the house, with only the ductwork and supply/returns inside.
The decisions you make about heating, ventilation and air conditioning - or HVAC - in your home or business directly affect your monthly energy usage and utility bills, as well as your health. Throughout this site, you’ll learn more about the costs and benefits of a new home comfort system vs. an older system, find valuable information about air filters and air purifiers, gather tips on air conditioning maintenance and installation, and learn what to look for in choosing a company to install your home comfort system.
It’s a fact - all mechanical systems weren’t made to last forever. And one of the most difficult decisions any homeowner faces is whether to repair or replace an aging air conditioning and heating system.
Here are just a few things to consider about your outdated system:
- Out of warranty means costly repairs
- Inefficient operations waste energy - increasing your electric bill
- Unbalanced airflow makes it harder to cool rooms
- Constant on and off cycling is as noisy as it is an energy waster
- Circulates as much dust around the house as air
Did you know that?
Of the hundreds of heating and air conditioning systems that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power examined:
- 90 % of the units had some sort of energy-wasting problem
- 50 % had an improper refrigerant charge resulting in wasted energy, as well as shortened equipment life
- 40 % failed to meet minimum airflow requirements
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) - What is it?Air conditioner efficiency is often rated by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the SEER rating of a unit, the more energy efficient it is. When deciding whether to repair or replace, it’s important to factor in a comfort system’s SEER.
The costs of ownership
Depending on the type of home comfort system you have, the total annual costs to keep an older system can be substantial.
| Details: | 3 Ton: | 4 Ton: | 5 Ton: |
| Electrical energy waste | $3,223.00 | $4,294.00 | $5,370.00 |
| Gas energy waste | $1,117.00 | $1,505.00 | $1,882.00 |
| Service repairs for aging equipment | $2,091.00 | $2,423.00 | $2,642.00 |
| Price increases in equipment over 5 years | $1,224.00 | $1,632.00 | $2,040.00 |
| Increased labor costs over 5 years | $612.00 | $816.00 | $1,020.00 |
| Total Extra Cost: | $8,267.00 | $10,667.00 | $12,954.00 |
(Comparisons based on existing older models: 6- S.E.E.R. vs. new 13-15 S.E.E.R and existing older models- with 60 % A.F.U.E. vs. 80-90 % A.F.U.E.)
The value of a new system
Replacing your home comfort system now will give you all the benefits of reliable, clean, healthy and comfortable indoor air. Even better, it will add up to $15,000 to the value of your home, while saving you an average of $10,000 in five years over the costs to run an older, inefficient system!
Learn more about cost savings
Still undecided whether or not you should repair or replace your cooling and heating system? Contact a cooling and heating specialists here. They’ll be happy to give you an evaluation and answer your comfort system questions.
Find a Local Air Conditioning Specialist
Click here to contact a local and reliable air conditioning specialist in your area.
