AC System Replacement - The Efficiency Consideration - Should I Repair it or Replace It

In my recent article entitled "Air Conditioning System Replacement - The Age Consideration" we recently discovered how the age of your home cooling system can be a determining factor in the decision to replace your current Air Conditioner or Heat Pump System. Now let's see how the upgrade of efficiency plays into the equation of a new Cooling system replacement.

Efficiency is the leading reason that most families replace their existing Air Conditioning systems. Let's face it, if something didn't improve, be it money savings on utility bills or comfort, no one would change out their working units. Cost savings are a serious trigger for homeowners these days and a new Air Conditioning System can prove to be an investment that pays off in a big way.

Let's take a look. As the age issue points out, an Air Conditioning System that is approaching 15 years of age, will probably only be rated at 8 or 10 SEER. SEER is the efficiency measurement and standard that all U.S. Air Conditioning Systems are given for their operating cost efficiency. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Currently, the minimum SEER that is available in the U. S. is 13 SEER, and some systems are rated as high as 21 SEER.

So what does this mean to you the homeowner? Well, let's say you currently have an 8 SEER Air Conditioner and you decide to upgrade to a 13 SEER (current minimum standard). Each numeric rise in SEER rating equates to approximately an 8% increase in efficiency. That being the case, a 40% efficiency gain is possible (13-8=58=40). This means that if your average monthly summer cooling bill is $200, you could save up to $80 per month on our utility bill or nearly $1000 per year.

A savings of $1000 per year is huge. Now how does this play into the decision to replace your current air conditioning or heat pump system? Simply do the math. Over the course of the first five years, the saving alone will more then pay for the cost of a new system. What are you waiting for?

Jay Boyd owns his own heating and air conditioning store Home Air Direct where he helps the do-it-yourselfer save money. His blog site Ask Boyd contains numerous tips and stories involving the HVAC industry.