What is a SEER Rating?

September 30, 2018

One of the best ways to judge your air conditioning unit for efficiency is through its SEER rating. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is a standard that has helped to regulate the AC industry since 2008 and is backed by the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute. Why should you pay attention to the rating of your air conditioning unit? Here are just a few of the most important reasons. Energy Efficiency The higher that a SEER rating is on an air conditioning system, the more efficient it is, generally. The minimum SEER rating for most new systems is around 14. You should not purchase any new system with a SEER rating below this, because you will have energy bills that are more expensive than you should receive. Older systems may have a SEER rating of around 8 or 9. Ratings of 13 or 14 can be many times more efficient depending on other factors in the home. System Durability The durability of your heating and air conditioning system depends directly on the amount of daily pressure that you put on its infrastructure. The less efficient than a system is, the more work it has to do...

View Article

Read More

Should I Turn My AC Off While On Vacation?

July 11, 2018

Turning off your AC while you are away may seem like the economic thing to do but that is not always the case. Cooling your home to the comfortable temperature is wasteful and unnecessary. If you are going on vacation, you should set the AC to a higher temperature than you usually do. You can use a programmable thermostat to set the desired temperatures at different times. Another way to increase efficiency and reduce the strain on your air conditioner is by keeping all curtains closed. Factors That Determine Whether to Switch Off Your AC While on Vacation Weather Check the forecast for the weather during the period you will be away. If the temperatures are expected to be moderate, it is wise to turn the AC completely off. If, however, temperatures are expected to be very high, then you need to leave it on. Air conditioners facilitate the circulation of air and removal of humidity in your home. If you switch off your AC and the humidity gets too high, it may lead to structural damages to your home including the growth of mold, swelling doors, peeling paint, cracking plaster, and buckling of wooden floors. If the temperatures get...

View Article

Read More