Purchasing a new central air conditioning system is often stressful for homeowners. Not quite as stressful as buying a new car, but the workings of air conditioners and their many stats aren’t something people are familiar with. And getting the right new AC installation in Tampa, FL is essential, since you’ll rely on it for many days of the year, all around the year.
If you’re currently looking for a new AC, there’s one stat that may be on the top of your mind, and that’s the air conditioner’s energy efficiency rating (SEER). Efficiency is an important word in home appliances, and people are always hunting for the best in efficiency so they can avoid higher utility bills. It’s a great idea, but it can sometimes lead consumers to focus on efficiency over everything else—and that can end up going wrong, as we’ll explain.
Children are heading back to school, and in a few months they’ll start bringing home report cards. But you can hand out a report card before school starts: a report card for your air conditioning system. How did it perform its job this summer? Did it sail through the season and keep those electrical bills steady? Or did it hit a few bumps along the way?
An air conditioning system is manufactured to use a specific amount of chemical refrigerant. This is known as an air conditioner’s charge. People often make the mistake of thinking refrigerant is an energy source for an air conditioner. It isn’t. The energy source of an air conditioner is electricity. Refrigerant is the heat transference medium that allows the air conditioner to move thermal energy outside of the house (cooling the indoor air) and exhausting it. The refrigerant evaporates and condenses in a cycle and never dissipates—so it will never get “used up.”
The best way to ensure a great AC installation is to work with licensed HVAC professionals. In fact, this is the only way to do it—unless you are an HVAC professional yourself. Trying to take on the installation job on your own or allowing an amateur to do it is a big “nope.”