A Look at Today’s Best Air Conditioning Technology

The term “air conditioning” was first coined in 1906 and room cooling systems have been on the market since 1929. In 1947, low-cost air conditioners became available and central air conditioners have been common in homes since the 1960s. Over this time, air conditioning equipment has made leaps and bounds in terms of both performance and efficiency. Today, a modern air conditioner or heat pump can be expected to last between 10-15 years before requiring replacement. If it’s time to consider new air conditioner installation in your Las Vegas home, it’s worth taking a look at today’s best air conditioning products and solutions to ensure you make a choice that is right for your needs.

Higher SEER Values

Air conditioning equipment is currently rated via a system called SEER, or seasonal energy efficiency ratio. All air conditioners manufactured today have a SEER rating, and the higher the rating, the more efficiently the air conditioner can operate. High cooling efficiency means the unit turns more incoming energy into cooling, which reduces energy waste as well as the costs of cooling your home each month. Current federal regulations require all air conditioning units, including heat pumps, manufactured on or after January 1, 2015, to have a minimum SEER rating of 14. This is an increase of one from the previous manufacturing standards instated in 2006, and an increase of four from the standards in place since 1987. It’s important to note that while the current minimum SEER is 14, you can certainly opt to purchase an air conditioner with a SEER rating well above this value. Today, some air conditioning units can reach SEER values of 20-26 when sized, installed, and operated properly.

Variable-Capacity Blowers

When your air conditioner or heat pump activates, your HVAC system’s blower motor must activate as well. This blower motor is responsible for drawing air into the air conditioner and then pushing it through your ductwork so it can reach your living spaces. In the past, blower motors were either completely on or off; today, variable-capacity or variable-speed blowershave made it possible to adjust the blower motor speed to reduce the system’s energy usage. Turning a blower motor on from a completely inactive position actually requires more energy than leaving the motor on at low speeds, then ramping the motor’s output up when more cooling is needed. By allowing the air conditioning system to adjust the motor’s speed, variable-capacity air conditioning systems will not only keep your home cooler, but also reduce the cost associated with achieving the comfort levels you want.

Our experienced AC technicians can help you with every step of new air conditioning installation when it’s time to replace your current cooling system. Whether you’d like to invest in a heat pump or a traditional air conditioner, we’ll give you a range of options and perform professional installation for excellent long-term and problem-free cooling. You can find out more about the latest advances in home comfort technology on our blog, or click through our website for a full list of our HVAC services, including 24-hour emergency response to handle home cooling emergencies.