The amount of money you have to pay for your electric bill each month during the summer might be more than necessary. Your air conditioner is using a large percentage of that energy, and perhaps you could cool your home with less. There are so many energy-efficient options available now for your next AC system!
Whether you want to plan for central AC replacement in Madisonville, LA, the installation of one of these other systems, or you want to know more about each of them so you can determine which is right for your home, we’re ready to provide the help you need. Here are some of the new, exciting possibilities.
High-Efficiency AC Systems
Today’s AC units have shockingly high-efficiency levels. They use less energy than your old unit did when it was brand-new… and that old unit has only been getting less efficient as it ages. How are these systems so efficient? There are a few new developments in AC technology that have made a huge difference.
New materials for refrigerant coils are better at thermal transfer. That means they allow the refrigerant to absorb and release heat more quickly and effectively, so less energy can be used. Both compressors and blower fan motors, which used to only be on or off, now operate at variable levels. They can run in power-saving mode most of the time, only kicking up to high gear when necessary.
Ductless AC Systems
It’s estimated that in the average American home, around 30% of the cooled air created by air conditioners is lost through damaged and deteriorated ductwork. Ductless AC systems can get around the problem of old, leaky ducts entirely, without forcing you to replace all the ducts in your home.
These systems generate the cold air right where it’s needed, at the air handlers, rather than pumping it from a central unit around the house. And with each air handler having its own thermostat, you’ll only use the cooling power you actually need rather than keeping the whole house cold because you need the AC in a certain area.
Heat Pumps
Today’s heat pumps have all the advantages of the energy-efficient AC systems discussed above. The major difference is that they can also provide extremely efficient home heating! Not only will you save money in the summer, you’ll save even more in the winter. Heat pumps can work with either ducted or ductless HVAC systems.
Zone Control
To provide the room-by-room climate control of individual air handlers without transitioning away from your central, ducted AC system, you should consider zone control. This is a way of opening and closing the ducts to certain portions of your home with dampers within the ductwork. That way, you’ll only use the energy you actually need, to cool the parts of your home you really need cool.