"How Can I Lower My Utility Bills?"

 

This is the most commonly asked question by our customers.  Economy Air Conditioning & Heating realizes that our customers are concerned about energy savings.  If you’re shopping for a new heating and air conditioning system, the best way to control your energy costs is to purchase a high efficiency variable speed system. Variable speed means your system varies its speed depending on your home’s heating and cooling requirements. Because of this, variable speed systems are more efficient than single-stage systems. Efficiency ratings also matter. SEER is a measure of a unit’s cooling efficiency. The higher the SEER, the higher the efficiency. The higher the efficiency, the greater the potential for lower energy bills, which means your cooling system will be less costly to operate over time.  When you match a 13, 14, 16 or 18 SEER air conditioner or heat pump with a variable speed furnace or air handler, you can rest assured that you’ve selected a home comfort system that is one of the quietest and most energy efficient available today.

 

If you have a split gas system (air conditioner and gas furnace), it is important that you realize how these two systems work together.  Think of your air conditioner and furnace as part of a total system. That system will work better, longer and more efficiently if all of its components are matched in capacity and efficiency. For example, your new air conditioner will be rated with a specific SEER efficiency rating. Your existing furnace and indoor coil can significantly impact this efficiency because of technology differences and an imbalance in capacity. Your indoor coil may even be dirty and blocked with particles, which further hinders its performance. A mismatched system mixes old technology with new, decreasing your overall comfort and diminishing performance.

 

If you have a heat pump (all electric - whether a package system or split system) and it is more than 10 years old, it could be operating at lower than 8.00 SEER.  Based upon the chart set forth below, the estimated annual cooling bill of an 8.00 SEER system to that of a new system with a higher SEER, such as 13, 14, or 16.  For instance, if the annual cooling bill of an 8.00 SEER system was $800, it could potentially cost $400 for a 16.00 SEER system, or an annual savings of 50%.  These numbers should remain consistent over time as long as preventive system maintenance is performed on a regular basis.  Also, potential energy savings may vary depending on your personal lifestyle, system settings, local climate, actual construction and installation of equipment and duct system