5 Ways a New AC System Can Lower Your Energy Bill
By:
TCS A/C and Heating
| Published 05/01/2023
Central air conditioning systems are a must, especially in Texas! If you live in a place like The Woodlands, Conroe, TX, Willis, TX, Huntsville, TX or Montgomery, TX, then you know how much your personal comfort depends on your AC unit.
As important as your AC is, you do not want to be paying an arm and a leg for it, but during peak cooling months it can account for more than 50% of your energy bill. So, what can you do? By getting a new air conditioner installed by T.C.S. A/C & Heating can save hundreds of dollars per year on your energy bill and it can actually pay for itself! If your air conditioning unit is over eight years old here are the top 5 ways a new AC system can lower your energy bill.
1. Energy Efficiency
The number one thing that a new central air conditioning gets you is more energy efficiency. Just like a newer car will get you better gas mileage, a new AC system will allow you to save money on your energy bills.
How do the new unit’s do this? Your AC unit’s efficiency is measured by its SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating). This shows you how much cooling you get for each kilowatt (KW) of electricity that you use. The higher the SEER, the more efficient your unit is and the less it will cost to air condition your home.
By replacing older units that have a lower SEER with a new, high-efficiency unit that has a SEER of 20.0 or more, your air conditioning bill could be cut in half. This could mean you save up to $1,000 a year on your electric bill.
2. Better Temperate Control
Being able to precisely control the temperature on your AC unit is key to saving money on your energy bills. Older units lose efficiency and airflow over time and even if your thermostat is set to a certain temperature the unit may not be able to get there or if it does, it may have to work incredibly hard and inefficiently to do so. In addition to that, new AC units can give you the ability to add two very important features when it comes to better temperature control.
One way is by connecting your unit to a smart thermostat like a Nest, ecobee or Honeywell. These thermostats not only allow you to set and schedule precise temperatures for when you are home and when you are away but many also learn your preferences and will control the temperature automatically.
The other thing a new AC can do is set your home up in zones. This means that sections of your house are cooled individually which will also allow for better control. For example, at night you can keep the upstairs cooler for sleeping and the unoccupied downstairs a little cooler to save money.
3. Getting the Right Size
Another key to saving money on your energy bill with an AC unit is to make sure you have the right sized AC unit for your space. If your unit does not have enough power to cool the amount of space you have in your home, you will not only be uncomfortable but you will have to run the unit at max capacity and that will cost money. If your unit is too big, you will be paying to run a powerful unit that you do not need.
As your AC unit gets older, it will be more difficult for it to cool your existing space and if you have added or made changes to your space that will affect its cooling ability even further. If you have added additions to your home or insulated areas differently your old AC unit may no longer be the correct size for your home. If you have made changes, it is best to talk to a professional HVAC specialist who can tell you exactly how powerful your AC unit should be to fit your home’s needs.
4. Rebates
Getting a new air conditioning unit with a higher SEER may be able to lower your energy bill in more ways than one. There is a wide range of federal, state and local government rebate programs that will credit your money back for being more energy efficient. You can also contact your specific energy provider who may also have rebates associated with more efficient units.
If you live in Conroe, TX, Willis, TX, Huntsville, TX or Montgomery, TX, you can check out a resource like texasishot.org which will give you a wide range of helpful links that will connect you to energy efficiency rebate programs throughout Texas and the U.S.
5. Professional Service
The fact is, older air conditioners break down more often than new ones and have parts that need to be replaced more often. For these reasons, upgrading your AC unit will save you money on repairs for sure.
However, professional service for new AC units will also save you money on your energy bill. Newer units may come with warranties and service plans that older units no longer have or maybe never did. When you have a unit backed by professional service, they will be checked and have parts replaced on a recommended schedule which will keep your unit running at peak performance which will save you money on your energy bill.
Conclusion
As you can see, upgrading to a new central air conditioner unit will save you money on your energy bill. There are plenty of other advantages as well such as, new units that are quieter and produce less noise while sunning, many come in a smaller physical size with bigger production, they are better for the environment and they have protections that will make them more durable so they will last longer. If you have an older AC unit in Montgomery County, TX, do yourself a favor and contact T.C.S. A/C & Heating to see how much you can save today.
