Why the Higher Efficient Air Conditioner is Not Always Best

Especially when the warmer months come calling, air conditioning is one of the most important systems you can have in your home. A good air conditioning unit will help you beat the heat without necessarily costing you an arm and a leg every month. But then again, HVAC systems are among the most energy-consuming units in the home. This means that choosing a high-efficiency AC unit can help you to keep your monthly energy costs down. But then again, is a high-efficiency air conditioner really the best solution for you cooling problem always? Well, a keener school of thought tends to deviate from the affirmative. And mark my word, it isn’t without justifiable reasons.

How AC energy efficiency is are rated

Before we justify the rather conflicting statement, it pays to understand how AC efficiency is measured. Air conditioners are normally rated in terms of units known as SEER, which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This rating is expressed as a number calculated by determining the amount of cooling the AC can produce per unit of energy it consumes. This means that an AC that provides more cooling using the least amount of electricity is a winner. But still, why should you think twice when choosing a high-efficiency AC?

Here are 5 reasons why a higher efficiency air conditioner may not always be your best option:

1. Not All AC Brands and Models Are the Same

This one tends to be pretty obvious. Air conditioning units are available in a wide variety of options. Most importantly, there are more than just a few AC manufacturers in the industries. Being an electric appliance or system, the performance of air conditioning units may vary from one brand or model to another regardless of similarity in energy efficiency rating. Under the influence of factors such as pricing, you can choose a high-efficiency unit but end up picking the wrong unit in terms of overall quality.

2. The settings and maintenance matter

No matter how energy efficient your air conditioning unit is, living it running at the lowest setting all night or throughout the day when no one is at home can be reckless. It will do you less good when it comes to your energy bills at the end of the month.

3. Poor maintenance can wreck it all

Air conditioners are delicate appliances. They deserve proper care and maintenance if at all they’re to last long and remain optimally functional. Things such as neglected filter-cleaning and replacement can reduce the unit’s lifetime, affect its performance and attract costly damages. At this point, your high-efficiency unit seizes to receive all the glory.

4. Cheaper cooling alternatives exist

As much as today’s air conditioning units are highly efficient and reliable, you may not always need them. Cheaper indoor air conditioning alternatives such as swamp coolers and fans do exist. There’s no need of purchasing a highly costly system and having it installed in a home that you’ll spend only a few weeks or months.  

5.  Improper Sizing Can Ruin Things

Last but not the least; how you size your air conditioner matters. It makes no sense to buy a high-efficiency air conditioner that is too big or too small for the space you intend to cool. One way or another, the unit will end up consuming more energy than it is supposed to when operational. This makes it important to always size your AC right, whether replacing your old unit, upgrading or just having the system installed during/after your home’s construction.

Nonetheless, you can easily determine the AC power unit using an air conditioner efficiency calculator.  The above few tips can go a long way in helping you with your decision.