Why Are New Air Conditioners More Efficient?
If your summer energy bills have been climbing higher and higher, it is likely because your air conditioner is not as efficient as it could be. Replacing it with a newer, more efficient model should help you get things under control. But why are new air conditioners so much more efficient than older models? As it turns out, there are a few key reasons for this increase in efficiency.
Everything Works
First off, new air conditioners are efficient simply because they are new. There should not be any parts that are worn and that have begun to rub together. Everything should be freshly lubricated and in good shape. Your older AC unit probably has wear and tear that causes it to operate less efficiently than it did when it was new — but a new air conditioner likely lacks that wear and tear.
Newer Refrigerants
The refrigerant is the substance housed inside the coil of the air conditioner. It expands, which is what causes the air conditioner to cool down. Older air conditioners were often made to run a refrigerant called R-22. This has since been discontinued because it had some harmful effects on the environment. New air conditioners instead run a refrigerant known as R-401A. This refrigerant is better for the environment, but it also expands and cools more for the same unit of energy.
Variable-Speed Fans
Older air conditioners had single-speed fans. They were either on or off. Newer models, on the other hand, tend to have fans that can run on low, medium, or high speed. Or, some models have two speeds. This allows the air conditioner to run at a slower speed when your home only needs a little cooling. This lower speed is more efficient and requires less energy.
Better Parts
The parts inside a new air conditioner tend to be designed in a way that maximizes efficiency. For instance, the belt on the blower motor may be smoother, so it slides easier and does not require as much energy input to move. The parts in a new AC unit are also better designed to resist the sort of damage that causes them to become less efficient over time.
New air conditioners are substantially more efficient than older models. If you're using more energy than you would like to in the summer, then consider replacing your AC unit. A local air conditioning contractor can help you out.