Manufacturers consistently improve their air conditioning systems, creating units that provide greater cooling efficiency and comfort. Whether you're in the market to replace your current air conditioning system or simply planning for a future upgrade, it's important to understand how modern systems differ from their older counterparts.
While every system will be a little bit different, here are three surprising ways that modern air conditioning systems are different and better than older units.
1. Efficiency Is About More Than Just SEER
SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) is one of the easiest ways to make an apples-to-apples efficiency comparison between two air conditioning systems. All else being equal, a system's SEER rating provides an easy way to determine if one air conditioner will offer lower overall operating costs compared to a different air conditioner.
However, the situation can be more complex when dealing with two-stage or variable-speed compressor air conditioning systems. Since these systems don't need to operate at full cooling capacity at all times, they can potentially provide much greater efficiency during slightly cooler weather. As a result, a more advanced system may save you even more money than its SEER rating may indicate.
2. Communicating Systems Can Provide More Optimization
If you're only familiar with older HVAC equipment, the concept of a "communicating" system may seem unusual. A standard air conditioning system features one-way communication with your thermostats. The thermostats can request cooling from the air conditioner, but the air conditioner cannot talk to the thermostats to provide additional information.
A communicating system allows different parts of your home's HVAC system to talk to one another. These systems are often proprietary, so you'll typically need to install equipment from the same manufacturer for these systems to function correctly. However, the ability of different parts of your system to communicate can lead to increased efficiency, comfort, and even reliability.
3. Better Air Quality Is Possible
With older HVAC systems, improved air quality was often a side-effect of the system's design. While the air filters found on these systems effectively removed dust or contaminants, their primary purpose was to protect the air conditioner's evaporator coils. In other words, their impact on indoor air quality was more of a happy coincidence than an intentional design feature.
However, modern systems can often support much better filtering equipment, including thicker air filters that require less frequent changes while removing smaller contaminants or even bacteria and viruses from the air. These improvements mean that a modern air conditioning system can make a substantial difference to your home's indoor air quality.
For more information about AC installation, contact a local company.
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