When it’s time to replace your Columbia, SC, air conditioner, you’ll have to choose from a lot of options. Today’s new air conditioners offer a range of features designed to enhance your comfort and optimize your home’s energy efficiency. Here are three features to consider when you plan for an AC installation.
High SEER Rating
Seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) ratings are a way of measuring how energy-efficient an air conditioner is. The SEER range is 13 to 21. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy-efficient the air conditioner. Choose the highest SEER rating you can afford when planning your air conditioning installation. According to the Department of Energy, today’s top air conditioning systems are 20 to 40 percent more energy-efficient than those made just 10 years ago.
Variable-speed Motors
When your home’s air is much warmer than the temperature on your thermostat, your air conditioner will have to work hard in order to catch up. An air conditioning system with a variable-speed motor optimizes the motor’s speed and electricity usage. When a lot of cooling power is needed, the motor operates at the highest speed. When the difference between your home’s temperature and the thermostat setting is small, the motor operates at the lowest speed. This saves energy and reduces wear and tear on the motor.
Programmable or Smart Thermostats
A programmable thermostat facilitates setting a daily schedule for the temperature of your home. If you leave for work and return home at consistent times, setting up a schedule could reduce your home’s energy use. The programmable thermostat has times for wake-up, day, evening and night. Raising the temperature while you’re gone lowers energy use. A smart thermostat takes this one step further. It learns your schedule and optimizes your home’s temperature with advanced algorithms.