Summer is really heating up in Denver. These hotter temperatures can make summers unbearable without air conditioning. The only problem is, you might also find your air conditioner struggling to keep up with demand if it is an older or less energy-efficient model.
This can impact your budget because you are either a) paying for more repairs or b) paying for additional energy consumption. Both cases point to the possible benefits of installing a new, high-efficiency air conditioner. But will a high-efficiency AC unit really reduce energy costs? Yes, as long as you consider these three important factors.
Since high efficiency is your goal, you have to compare the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) for each unit. This measurement is assigned based on the Department of Energy’s SEER ratings which look at the total cooling in BTUs divided by the watts consumed. When comparing SEER ratings, the higher the rating, the more energy-efficient the system. If you think this won’t make much of a difference, consider that the average AC system in 1979 had a SEER of 6 and by the 1990’s the minimum standard was set at 10. Higher standards are constantly being debated, which means your unit could easily become short on meeting those standards.
Although the units with higher SEERs do cost more, they will provide as much as 30% more cooling per watt, so you can save money in energy costs to help offset the cost. The warmer your climate the higher SEER you should choose. Although SEER is important, if your home is poorly insulated you won’t see as much energy efficiency. So when investing in an energy efficiency unit it makes sense to have your home checked for insulation issues. More on this in point #3!
Always discuss your needs with a licensed HVAC professional in Denver. They understand AC ratings which are based on Btu’s/hour or in ‘tons’ which are equal to 12,000 Btu’s/hour per ton. When shopping on your own it’s easy to think a bigger air conditioner is best. However, if you get a unit too big for your home it actually costs more money not only to buy and install but also to run. So basically you will not be doing much to improve energy efficiency, or can maybe even make it worse.
Larger units in smaller homes also have trouble dehumidifying the air. If you choose the right-sized unit you can effectively reduce energy by as much as 35%. Your Denver Bell Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical, will calculate the volume of air needed to keep your home cool, but also consider your local climate, the layout of your home, your insulation and how much sun exposure your home has. All of these variables contribute to the heat in your home. There is a formula used as an industry standard to measure size requirements.
As mentioned in point #1, your new SEER-rated AC unit is only as efficient as your existing insulation. Before you arrange for your AC installation, consider having an energy efficiency audit performed by a professional. Since your insulation and overall home energy efficiency impact the size of the AC unit you need, you want to make improvements that will help improve not only your new unit’s performance but also potentially reduce the size of unit you require. This in turn could allow you to buy a less expensive model. Your auditor will make recommendations of how you can improve your home’s insulation such as new weather stripping on doors and windows or insulation upgrades for interior walls, attics, or basements.
Before you jump the gun, you should also consider how well your unit is working now. For example, how old is your unit? What is its SEER? How often are you calling for repairs? These questions are important, especially for newer units with higher SEER ratings. For example, although you might think replacing a 10 SEER unit with a 13 SEER unit will offer savings, you’ll really only be saving maybe $42 per year. That really isn’t worth the investment or effort.
However, if you have a lower SEER unit of 8 and replace it with a SEER unit of 12, you can actually reduce annual costs by a third. When it comes to age, units at about 12 to 14 years old are approaching their life expectancy so it makes sense to start shopping. Anything around 10 years old or less that has a good SEER rating and that is not yet costing money in repairs could still last at least another 5-years with regular maintenance.
While this won’t impact the effectiveness of your energy-efficient unit it will certainly help offset the costs. Many local electric companies offer rebates for any form of energy-efficient upgrades including HVAC systems. Last but not least, consider warranties to make sure you find a unit with a good manufacturer warranty.
Speak to your Denver AC experts at Bell Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical today for more information on the benefits of a high-efficiency air conditioner today.
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Jordan from Bell Plumbing did an outstanding job with a preventive drain cleanout at my home. He even located an additional access point in our main drain line I didn’t even know existed! We’re good to go for a few years for only $89 — we have used Bell in the past for major... Read more
Dylan was very professional, thorough, and courteous. He double checked everything to make sure our leak was stopped. Suggested getting upgrades to prevent any further issues. Let us know that Bell Plumbing also does remodel work if we decide to go that route. He cleaned up... Read more
Difficult to reach someone by phone to schedule an evaluation. Requires at least 2 phone calls and takes several minutes. If you aren’t available to answer your phone when they call back, you have to start the procedure all over again. The technician (Chris) was knowledgeable... Read more
Ben was great!! He was thoughtful in listening to are issue with our furnace and corrected the problem with little or no time wasted. He also was a very kind and relatable in explaining the issues and what he did to correct the problem and for that we are thankful to him as... Read more
We had a leak in our 1980’s bathroom that was getting worse by the day. Dylan showed up on time, quickly diagnosed the issue, and had it fixed in no time. He was super professional and respectful of our home. The pricing was fair and transparent, and he explained everything... Read more
Bell Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical is incredible, especially the electrical team. Huge thanks to Jeremiah, Trey, Nick, and Micah, who exceeded all expectations! They completed a large project, including a new main panel, and it's a work of art - the overhead... Read more
I recently had the pleasure of working with David Agosto from Bell for some plumbing issues at my home, and I couldn’t be more impressed with his work. David arrived on time, was extremely professional, and took the time to thoroughly assess the situation. He explained the... Read more
We have used Bell Plumbing throughout the twenty years we have owned our home. From bathroom updates to a complete re-piping of our water lines Bell has always been professional. They recently replaced our furnace and within the first year it had some issues. The technician... Read more
Joined Bell membership a few months ago. Hugh did a great job adding an adjustable wire cover at the electrical panel to help prevent the wires from exposing in an event of ground settling.
This time we gave Bell a call for furnace service. Mike McGowan showed up next day and... Read more
Bell Plumbing and Dylan were great to work with. Prompt, efficient, thorough, and very nice. Dylan identified a couple of code issues that two other companies had missed and explained everything in detail before and after work. I actually felt like I knew something about... Read more
I can’t express enough how much I appreciate the work that Chris completed for a boiler repair. He answered several questions and ensured the repair approach was correct and then far exceeded my expectations. The boiler is working exceptionally well and my customers are very... Read more
Jordan was efficient and executed the repair quickly. His assessment and feedback helped me to know what the scope of the issue was and how the task would be completed. Jordan then went about completing the repair and notified me when he was finished. I appreciate the... Read more
Bell has been awesome to work with. Levi helped us out of an emergency plumbing situation. He thoroughly explained what was needed and followed up the next week for a complimentary camera inspection of the sewer line issue. Fair price. Great people.
Jeremiah was awesome. He explained everything to us in a way we could understand. Very professional and cared about his work and how we were treated. I would highly recommend him and if I need an Electrician again, I know I will ask for him. A great asset to your company.
Jeremiah replaced the electrical panel on our home recently. We have complete confidence in the workmanship, and he was a pleasure to work with. Earlier in the year Bell replaced our water heater, and that was a great experience as well. Everyone we have interacted with at Bell... Read more
Tech arrived on time . Called before for his timeline . Very professional. Clean attire. Respectfull, of me and my house . Got the job done quickly . Explained the procedure to fix the problem. Very clean didn’t make a mess .. highly recommend this tech and Bell plumbing . ... Read more
We had several Electric Vehicle charger installation bids from other companies and Bell Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical worked with us to match the lowest cost bid, as well as installed the EV charger in our home about a month sooner than the other company.
We... Read more
Nick at Bell came to check hot water heaters which were old and needed replacing. Very quick on response/appointment and installed new ones same day. Very professional and Good communication throughout job. Very happy with results
I had 2 (unrelated) issues over the past week: a bathroom faucet/handle dripping/not working properly and a leak under the K sink. The technicians (Alex and Thomas) were both professional, knowledgeable and thorough and fixed both issues. The Bell process is very efficient: a... Read more
I used Bell for a clogged drain. Very professional from beginning to end. The person taking the appointment was thorough, communicating what to expect. The dispatcher provided the appointment details and communicated that a tecnician was available early. The technician (Levi)... Read more
Dan was beyond helpful and knowledgeable! He fixed our problem quickly and even better than it was before the issues began. The best part, though, is that Dan gave us three different options, and the least expensive option ended up working great AND ended up costing less than... Read more
These guys did a great job with a last-minute toilet clog. I really appreciated the demeanor and professional manner of the young man who worked to solve our problem efficiently and with clear explanation. The price was good with the coupon and I would recommend to anyone.
What a great experience! New to the area and picked them based off of their reviews. Exceeded my expectations. Very thorough and professional from start to finish! Troy, the electrician, was so great! Macy who scheduled me was also a stand out. Will be using them for everything... Read more
If anyone is looking to get their furnace fixed or serviced then I would recommend Bell plumbing and heating company. These folks were able to fit me in when they had a full schedule. The technician Cameron White was on time and very professional. These folks definitely have a... Read more
