About eighty percent of newly built homes in the United States will have central air conditioning units installed during construction. Most people choose this option since the main unit can maintain a pleasant temperature in the room while also filtering and dehumidifying the air. This is one of the reasons why people are opting for this.
Individuals suffering from asthma or allergies will benefit much more from this technique. But people who already have homes don’t need to be concerned because it is possible to install central air conditioning systems even in homes that have previously been built up to that point!
Certain considerations are essential to choosing the most effective central air conditioning machine for your home. Your house’s dimensions should be the first item you think about. When it comes to air conditioning systems, there are many different sizes to choose from; therefore, you should choose the size that you believe will work best in your home.
If the unit is too small, it won’t dehumidify the air well. You should better seek the assistance of a contractor while making your selection because they use a process known as “Manual J” to determine the appropriate size.
Next, check the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating. Today’s technology is different from what it was in the past, which is one reason why energy efficiency has increased. Air conditioners installed a few decades ago had a SEER rating of 7 or 8, but new air conditioners are expected to have a rating of 13.
If you have an old air conditioner that isn’t very efficient, replacing it with a new central air conditioning system could help you save significant money on your monthly electricity costs. Choose a compressor that utilizes the “Scroll(tm) technology” for the most cutting-edge results in terms of energy efficiency. The new SEER rating is 13, up from 11.5 in the previous model, so you may anticipate annual savings of more than $500 thanks to this improvement.
In addition to meeting the other requirements, your central air conditioner must be “Energy Star” certified. This certificate indicates that the piece of machinery has a lower energy consumption rate than other new models. The older versions certainly use much more energy than the most recent models, which consume much less.
When deciding where to put the outside component of your equipment, exercise caution in the location selection process. These units are typically very loud. This is significant because it would be unable to effectively ventilate air if placed beneath a deck or if it was covered up by plants. Therefore, make sure to keep them a safe distance away from your deck, patio, and any other area of your home where you seek some peace and quiet.
Air conditioners are pretty helpful in maintaining a comfortable body temperature while the temperature outside is sweltering. You shouldn’t be astonished if you see people scurrying along the street to get into a room with air conditioning as quickly as possible.
However, keep in mind that cooling off is not the most important; maintaining your health and a new state of mind should be your primary focus. This is precisely what a high-quality air conditioner should be able to achieve for you, as in addition to lowering the temperature in the room, an air conditioner should also filter the air that is brought into it. A good air conditioner will have an appropriate setup to filter the air from the outside so that only clean air will be allowed to enter the building.
The air conditioners on the market cannot remove all the hazardous elements to your health. If you are truly concerned that breathing in dust, fumes, and smoke consistently may negatively impact your health in the long term, then you should purchase a high-quality air conditioner equipped with an effective air cleaner. What you require is a central air conditioner that also has a built-in air purification system.
This air conditioner will help allergy or breathing sufferers. Even if you have a good one, you need to open your doors and windows often to eliminate the old, dirty air in the room. Also, you should pay attention to how you clean the house.
Maintenance on your machine must be attended to consistently if you want it to serve you well for a significant amount of time and if you have an adequate air filtering system. You shouldn’t perform maintenance on your equipment until it completely breaks down or the air quality inside no longer remains as pristine as it once did. In point of fact, specialists in this area will recommend that you replace your filter monthly to ensure it is operating at its full potential. But alas! Some individuals do not make any effort to change it for even years!
Always make it a priority to thoroughly clean and replace the filter regularly. This way, your air conditioner can evacuate stale, filthy air and only allow in filtered new air. Therefore, the only way to ensure that clean air is circulated throughout your home is to do routine maintenance on your air conditioner. If the filter isn’t maintained, it won’t clean the air as it should, reducing the machine’s cooling ability. In addition, it results in greater consumption of energy, which in the end decreases the air conditioner’s overall lifespan.
Best Overall: Lennox XC25
The Lennox XC25 is one of the most influential and energy-efficient central air conditioning units available today. Because of its cutting-edge technology, this air conditioner has an outstanding SEER rating of 26, earning it the title of EnergyStar’s most efficient model for 2022.
Unlike many central units, which have one or two stages with one constant speed or two speeds (low and high), the Lennox XC25 is designed to have multiple, precise speed adjustments in 1% increments. This contrasts with most central units, which only have one or two stages with one steady speed.
The XC25 is approximately fifty decibels quieter than other air purifiers because it has a humidity control feature that removes different moisture levels depending on the climate (normal, dry, or coastal areas). Additionally, the XC25 has a sound level of approximately fifty decibels. Because of this, temperatures can remain stable regardless of whether or not the unit is operating.
Runner Up: Amana AVXC20
If it’s time to replace an older central air conditioner in your home, the Amana AVXC20 is a high-quality, quiet unit with a SEER rating of up to 24.5. It can help to significantly lower the amount of money you spend on your monthly energy bill.
EnergyStar awarded the AVXC20 the highest efficiency rating possible for 2022. Because of specialized inverter technology, power and speed levels can be automatically adjusted to reduce energy consumption when the thermostat temperature is reached (so that the compressor does not have to work harder than it needs to). The product comes with a comprehensive warranty.
Best Budget: Keystone KSTAW05CE
A highly energy-efficient air conditioner will generally cost more money, but the Keystone KSTAW05CE, which has earned the EnergyStar rating, is a cost-effective option to maintain a comfortable temperature while reducing overall energy use. The window air conditioner with 5,000 BTUs is surprisingly quiet and provides various energy-saving options, including a sleep mode, three different cooling and fan settings, and an energy-save mode.
In addition, there is a programmable thermostat, an LED display, a timer, and remote control for your convenience. The CEER rating for Keystone is 12.1, and the annual operating cost is around $40 because of this rating. Although it is a good deal overall, the air conditioner is not the best choice for particularly spacious areas.
Best Portable: The Whynter ARC-14SH
The Whynter ARC-14SH is easily moveable, and in addition to having a heater, dehumidifier, and fan, it also offers various additional functions that help lessen the impact it has on the environment (however, a cooling-only version is available). The auto drain mechanism of the 14,000 BTU unit allows it to recycle moisture during the cooling process, allowing it to cool an area up to 500 square feet in size.
In addition, it utilizes R-32 refrigerant, which, compared to other refrigerants, enables a 10% reduction in energy usage. When dust or debris accumulates, the air filters are simple to cleanse, which improves the air quality. To reduce energy use, the Whynter comes equipped with a window kit, an exhaust hose, and remote control that features a timed function.
Best Option For Close Quarters: Frigidaire
Air Conditioner Mounted in the Window by Frigidaire has 6,000 BTUs. It is crucial to get an air conditioner that is proportionate to the size of the space; nevertheless, it is not always the case that larger air conditioners are superior. A larger unit will trap more humidity when placed in a smaller area, making the air seem more sticky. For heating and cooling rooms between 150 and 250 square feet in size, the Frigidaire Energy Star 6,000 BTU is a great option.
This window air conditioner operates on 110 volts and has an energy efficiency rating (EER) of 12.1. The temperature and fan settings may be adjusted conveniently with the included remote control (or the main panel). In addition, there is an auto function, a sleep function, three different cooling speeds, and a timer that goes up to 24 hours.
The LG 14,000 BTU window air conditioner features twin inverter technology, which contributes to its CEER rating of 14.7, ability to be up to 25% more efficient than EnergyStar standards, and selection as the winner of the EnergyStar 2018 Emerging Technology Award.
The LG system employs the R32 refrigerant and can cool an area of up to 800 square feet. In addition to being energy-saving, the device produces significantly less noise than comparable ones (only 44 dB) and costs only $68 to operate annually. Even when you’re on the move, adjusting the air conditioner’s settings is easy because it can be controlled by a remote, a touch panel, or through services like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Best For Large Rooms: The Senville SENA-24HF/Z Mini Split Air
Another well-liked climate control method is mini splits, which function not only as air conditioners but also as heaters when the outside temperature decreases. They are mounted on an exterior wall to transfer heat from the interior to the external or vice versa. They are often designed to save space and do not require any ductwork.
The SENA-24HF is an excellent mini split available to homeowners as a do-it-yourself project. The 24,000 BTU unit is EnergyStar certified and has heating (for the cooler months), dry, and turbo modes. It has a SEER rating of 20.5 and can cool space between 1,200 and 1,450 square feet in size.
Additionally, it is compatible with Google Home and WiFi-enabled (or it may be operated by a remote). Other features include automatic cleaning, a built-in dehumidifier, a remotely programmable thermostat, and refrigerant leakage detection.
Installing a mini-split is significant because the refrigerant tube must travel through your wall from the external unit to the interior air handler. Additionally, the unit must be hard-wired to your home’s electrical system to function correctly. If you don’t feel confident handling those tasks on your own, you might want to think about getting a quote from a licensed installation.
In Summary
The Lennox XC25 is my top pick because of the new technological advancements that make the unit extremely efficient. If you need a portable option, we recommend the Whynter ARC-14SH, which is ideal for medium-sized rooms. It will also significantly reduce the electric bill, resulting in even more savings.
Ratings for Energy Use
EER, CEER, and SEER are the three primary efficiency ratings that should be considered. The Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) is a metric that determines how successfully a cooling system functions, and an EER value of 12 is seen as satisfactory. The Department of Energy established the Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio (CEER) as the standard for window units in 2014. This rating considers the energy consumed when the unit is in use (the EER) and the power consumed while it is in standby mode.
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, also known as SEER, measures an air conditioner’s efficiency throughout a complete cooling season. Unlike the central air conditioning systems, individual room air conditioners do not have a SEER rating; however, these air conditioners have EER and/or CEER ratings. The higher the rating, the greater the unit’s overall efficiency.
Power
In addition, air conditioners can have a BTU rating, which stands for British Thermal Unit and measures the amount of heat extracted from the air. A more powerful appliance is denoted by one with a greater BTU rating.
When choosing a window unit, you should consider the space size and choose an air conditioner with a greater BTU rating for a larger room. Some industry professionals advise using approximately 20 BTU to cool each square foot of the room that needs to be conditioned.
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