Knowing your Air Conditioning Terms Could Save You Money

It may be fair to say that you do not really give your air conditioning unit a second thought. After all, it has become a mundane and functional item that is just another appliance in your home that is there when you need it most. Of course, when it breaks down, all of a sudden, your air conditioning unit has your full attention and you will want it to be repaired as soon as possible. 

However, taking some time out to get to know and understand the various terms associated with air conditioning will help you to lower the expense of running it in the first place. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the terms that are commonly used when describing the operation and efficiency of air conditioning units, so that you can lower your energy bills and help the environment.

SEER

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and it is used to measure the energy efficiency of air conditioning units. The more efficient a unit, the less amount of money that it will take to operate, as well as being much better for the environment and lowering your carbon footprint. According to the United States Department of Energy, the absolute minimum for a SEER rating should be 13 in modern day appliances. This is in comparison with some older units that come in at around 6 with their SEER rating, so you can immediately see the difference in energy efficiency right there. In fact, according to studies carried out, replacing your old energy consuming air conditioning unit with one that has a SEER rating of 16, has the ability to save you around £200 per year on your energy bills. You can read our guide to energy efficient air conditioning units here.

The downside to this is that the higher the SEER rating, the more expensive the model is to purchase, so it is important that you find the balance between where you are living and how often you need to run your air conditioning unit. 

Variable Speed or Modulated

These terms both mean the same thing, and they are associated with air conditioning units that are cheaper to run. In basic terms, a modulated or variable speed air conditioning unit will give you an even temperature, meaning that it will not be running when it is too cold and will not allow your home to become too hot.

In addition to which, a modulated air conditioning unit will also help to control humidity levels in your home, which is one of the major factors in determining how hot you feel. If humidity levels are lower and under control, you may not need to set your air conditioner to such a low temperature. This is something that can help reduce energy consumption levels, which could save you as much as £400 per year.

Humidity Control

As we mentioned above, having the ability to control humidity levels in your home can make a significant difference to how comfortable you feel. Therefore, even if your next air conditioning unit is not modulated, you should be on the lookout for a unit that gives you the opportunity to control the level of humidity in your home.

A Heat Pump

This may sound strange in a situation where you want to keep things cool, however, where traditional air conditioning systems make use of coolant inside coils to cool the air and pump it out, a heat pump uses a different method. 

Unfortunately, cooling air via a system of coils filled with coolant can be one of the main reasons why your energy bills are so high. However, switching to a heat pump system could save you a lot of money each year on your electricity bills. A heat pump works by extracting the hot air in your home and dispensing it outside, and it actually has a dual purpose of allowing you to pump warmer air from the outside in if you are feeling cold. This method is much more energy efficient than a traditional air conditioning unit, and it has the potential to save you hundreds of pounds on your energy bills each year.

Think about Maintenance

It is said that as many as 33% of air conditioning systems are not running to maximum efficiency, and this can be due to a number of reasons, most of which are related to poor maintenance. Therefore, you should endeavour to maintain and repair your air conditioning unit so that you can keep up its levels of efficiency, which can help to lower your energy usage and also your bills.

If you have any further questions on the right energy efficient Air Conditioner for you, then please contact a member of our team today who will be happy to help.