The Science Behind AC Efficiency and How Maintenance Maximizes Cooling Power
SEER Ratings Explained
You’ve probably seen the term Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) multiple times when shopping for an air conditioner. It’s a simple number that tells you how energy-efficient an air conditioner is. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the air conditioner.
Manufacturers are legally required to ensure their products have a minimum SEER rating of 13. However, if you want the highest levels of energy efficiency, you have to look for units with a SEER of 16 or higher.
A high SEER unit will cost you more upfront, but you’ll recoup your investment over the air conditioner’s lifespan.
How Refrigerants Affect AC Efficiency
The refrigerant running through your air conditioner’s coils is one “component” you probably don’t think about. However, your air conditioner will not cool your home without it. It absorbs the heat from your indoor space, releasing it outside. It changes from liquid to gas multiple times during this process.
If there’s a leak in the line and some of the refrigerant escapes, your air conditioner will lose some of its cooling power. It will also consume more energy as it struggles to cool your indoor space. The extra strain can potentially damage the unit’s compressor.
Regular maintenance will ensure you’re not using an air conditioner with low refrigerant levels and ultimately ensure you’re getting energy-efficient cooling from your system.
How Airflow Affects AC Performance
Your air conditioner needs proper airflow to run efficiently. Without adequate airflow, the air conditioner will work harder to cool your home. This will increase its energy consumption and also force the unit to work a lot harder.
You can ensure proper airflow through regular filter replacement and maintaining the ductwork system. Ideally, you should clean or replace your air filters every one to three months. You can maintain your ductwork by sealing leaks and clearing out all blockages.
Similarly, you need to monitor your vents and registers and ensure they are not blocked.
Top Tips to Keep Your AC Running at Peak Efficiency
Do you want to keep your air conditioner running efficiently? You have to ensure it’s well maintained. For the best results, you should schedule professional AC maintenance at least once a year, ideally before the cooling season.
However, in between the annual maintenance sessions, there are a few things you can do to keep your unit working efficiently.
- Change your filters regularly. You don’t have to wait a year to change your filters. Remember, optimum airflow is important for AC efficiency. Changing the filters in most air conditioners is straightforward. Your user manual should contain directions.
- Keep the area around the outdoor unit clean. The outdoor unit is responsible for releasing heat outside. Don’t ignore bushes growing around it and don’t allow debris to pile up around it.
- Use a smart thermostat. Smart thermostat settings will allow you to better vary the temperature your AC runs at instead of having it running full title all day, every day.
- Watch for performance drops. Don’t ignore any drops in AC efficiency, strange noises, or leaks.
- Don’t ignore any drops in AC efficiency, strange noises, or leaks. Call an HVAC technician at Perfection Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration to get ahead of the problem at (812) 508-8387.
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