As we start getting into the very hot months of summer, most people will have their AC units running around the clock to combat the extreme heat and humidity. The springtime was the time to get your check-up and make sure everything will be running smoothly for the summer because an issue could take a couple days to address in the busy summer months for HVAC repairmen. During the summer your AC will make being inside ideal but it will also stress your wallet more than the rest of the year. With the average household spending over $2,000 a year on energy bills (half of which is heating/cooling), homeowners are all ears when it comes to potential money saving options.
One way to make sure you’re saving all you can is by ensuring you have an efficiently rated AC unit. Air conditioners are rated on the efficiency by the ratio of the amount of cooling it delivers compared to the amount of electricity it consumes to do so. This ratio rating is called Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER for short. So as simple as it gets, the higher of a SEER rating that your AC unit has, the more money you save when running it compared to lower SEER rated units. So naturally, you’re going to want the most efficient unit you can get within your budget. SEER ratings go as high as 25 but also come with the biggest price tag, so there are a few things to consider when determining what would be a good match for what you’re looking for. Things like personal preference of indoor climate, the size of your home, how long you plan on living in your current place, regional climate, and how often you plan on using AC throughout the year should all factor into your decision.
Not only will a more efficient AC unit save money on a monthly basis, Florida Light and Power offer a rebate for qualifying purchases of new AC units. Qualifications for the rebate are the unit must be a new straight cool/air cooled high-efficiency unit, a SEER rating of 16 or 17, must be installed in a single-family detached home, and purchased through a Participating Independent Contractor.
So the upside of knowing what your SEER is and what it should be for you needs can be a huge benefit for your home and wallet. Take the time to find out and talk to a professional. For more information regarding purchasing efficient AC units, repairs, and maintenance, visit South Florida’s best AC experts at Chills Air Conditioning (www.chillsairconditioning.com) with locations in Miami.
