Standard vs. High Efficiency Air Conditioning | Air Conditioning Service in Fort Worth, TX
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) found that the average American tends to consume somewhere around 97.7 quadrillion BTUs (British Thermal Units) of energy. This statistic was spread over five major consumers of air conditioning which included:
- Energy Generators : 39%
- Transportation Sector: 28%
- Industrial Sector: 22%
- Residential Users: 7%
- Commercial Users: 4%
That being said, the US Department of Energy along with most air conditioning services in Fort Worth, TX can be seen promoting energy conservation. They have been doing so by convincing Americans to opt for appliances that are proved to be energy-efficient. This is exactly why we, being a responsible air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX,will use this opportunity to enlighten you about standard air conditioners and high efficiency air conditioners.
What is An Efficiency Rating?
The most common efficiency rating used by air conditioning services in Fort Worth, TX is the SEER or the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This metric is used by most professionals in order to determine what the cooling efficiency of a device is. The higher the SEER ratio of a device, the greater its efficiency is likely to be.
All the way back in 2015, all AC brands had been ushered to have a minimum SEER ratio of 14 – and this is therefore the minimum benchmark set by consumers. As reputed providers of air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX will tell you, even 14 is quite low as some modern air conditioning units have a SEER ratio of 30!
As you may have guessed already, the higher the SEER ratio of a device – the more expensive it will be. You may even find that every single digit of SEER ratings increases the price of an air conditioning system by about $1000.
If you don’t know where to find the SEER rating on a system, then your air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX will tell you that it is the printed yellow label that is prominently displayed as the Federal Energy Guide.
Air Conditioners vs. Heat Pumps
Both these systems tend to differ in the manner they deal with heat. Firstly, as expert providers of air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX will tell you, heat pumps work in a manner to extract air from mediums which include the ground, water, or even the air. The heat that is extracted from your home can then be used in order to heat ejected outdoors, buildings, or water.
Conventional air conditioners, on the other hand, work in a manner to extract heat from your indoor spaces and simply eject it into the outdoors. That being said, experts in air conditioning services in Fort Worth, TX have found that heat pumps have the tendency to reduce the consumption of energy by about 50%. Other than this, the experts have also identified those heat pumps with high efficiency rating work excellently as dehumidifiers. This is exactly why a heat pump with high efficiency ratings may even work better than the best conventional air conditioners out there!
Leading providers of air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX will also tell you that heat pumps tend to have lower expenses for water heating – standing at an annual estimate of $330. That being said, it is also worth mentioning here that heat pump technologies have advanced quite a lot. These devices can now also be installed in areas where freezing or sub-freezing temperatures are seen for extended periods at a time. The standard practice, however, of installing heat pumps is to have them in regions where minimal chilly weathers are a norm.
One more major factor for consideration is the installation and acquisition costs of both systems. As your provider of air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX will tell you, conventional AC systems are cheaper to install as opposed to heat pumps. In the example of ground-source heat pumps, installation requires them to be deep underground. Due to this, the upfront investment of these systems tends to be quite high. Luckily enough, some heat pumps that have high efficiencies may qualify for tax rebates (although this fact varies from state to state).
While you consider all of the above, one thing you really should know is the reverse function of heat pumps. These heat pumps also have the ability to reverse the process of heat extraction – which means they can function as both a cooling and heating system!
Variable Speed vs. Single Stage Air Conditioning Units
All air conditioning units out there have a blower/fan in their systems that are used to circulate air in the intended area via ductworks. Traditionally, these systems used to employ single-stage motors in order to push air in full throttle or even shutdown when the preset temperature is reached. The system would then be turned on whenever the preset temperature in the room would increase.
This temperature cycle, as your air conditioning service in Fort Worth, TX will advise, is quite inefficient. In order to solve this issue, you can opt for air conditioning units that employ variable speed or two stage units. These systems work in a manner to work at full throttle when needed and lower the speed when the preset temperature is reached. By doing so, the hot and cold spots in the home are eliminated while also saving on energy consumption.
So Which One Is Better?
If you weren’t able to deduce this on your own, we are here to tell you that high efficiency air conditioners are definitely much more beneficial as opposed to standard units. High efficiency units tend to consume lesser energy whilst enhancing the dehumidification of the home or office. As a result, they are able to produce better air circulation without compromising the levels of comfort for the respective users.
One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating
Well, here we’ve given you a brief comparison so that you can make your choice. If you’re looking for more guidance on the subject or simply need an installation, you should call 817-283-6911 or visit our website.