The Benefits of Having a New Air Conditioning Unit

Is your central air giving you trouble? It could be time to upgrade your current central air unit.

Being a Floridian, one of the most essential aspects of life in Florida is having your air conditioner in full working order.

Those long, hot summer days could be constant hassle for those living life without the benefits of central air. If you are still fighting the good fight of trying to stay cool in the Florida heat and humidity, now is one of the best times ever to change out an old central air conditioner for a new and more efficient unit.

With the current economy in the United States, swapping out your old central air unit for a more efficient offers a few major advantages.

First, many of the residential central air conditioners are manufactured in the United States, so buying one can help revitalize our economy. Almost all of the new super-high-efficiency models now use ozone-safe R410A refrigerant instead of old R-22.

The second major advantage is that it may save not only in terms of staying cool in the summer, it will also save you in your wallet.

One thing that consumers may not know is that if you purchase an energy-efficient product or renewable energy system for your home, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit. In order to qualify for the federal tax credit (this is a tax credit, not just a tax deduction), the central air conditioner must have a SEER of 16 or greater. A SEER translates to “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio”. Your old central air unit likely has a SEER of 10 or less. Your new energy-efficient product must be installed in 2011.

The more efficient central air conditioners provide a SEER of up to 24.5. Installing one of these models would reduce your summertime heating costs by up to 60 percent. It would also dramatically improve your indoor comfort and operate significantly quieter, particularly at night.

These 24.5- SEER models use a super-efficient rotary compressor. Most other models use scroll compressors, and some still use reciprocating piston compressors. What makes this rotary compressor so efficient is it uses inverter technology to provide nearly totally variable speed control and cooling output.

Two-level output compressors have been around for many years. They are reliable and provide adequate comfort for most families. The advantage of two-level cooling is it runs at a lower cooling output level during mild weather. This allows the system to run longer for better dehumidification and even indoor temperatures using less electricity.

The inverter technology rotary compressors take this several steps further by providing variable cooling output levels from about 25 percent to maximum cooling output. The matching thermostat is constantly sensing the air temperature and making fine adjustments to the cooling output for maximum comfort and the lowest electric bills.

All of the two and variable output air conditioners use a variable-speed indoor blower. This not only matches the air flow with the cooling output, but it provides better control of indoor humidity levels.

Many Florida residents are making the change and swapping out their older unit for a more efficient, energy-saving unit to beat the upcoming summer heat.