If you are in the process of or even considering the prospect of building a new home in Florida, then you will inevitably need to put some thought into the air conditioner you purchase. There are several different factors you should consider to ensure that your air conditioner is an efficient workhorse for many years to come.

Size Comparisons

You can purchase an air conditioner in almost any size imaginable, so it is important that you select one that is just right for the size of your new home. The absolute best way to do this is to have your contractor perform what is known as a ‘load calculation.’ Essentially, this helps in determining the size of the home, the amount and type of insulation being installed, and even the amount of window space in the home. All of these things can have a significant impact on the efficiency of your air conditioner, so they should be considered carefully.

Position of Installation

Something else that you will need to consider is the position within your home that you will be installing your air conditioner. Simply put, if you will need a large unit, then you’ll need to make sure that you can install it in such a place that the cooled air will be able to adequately reach every room in your house through the ducts. If you install the unit in the corner of a basement, for example, then the cooled air will have a more difficult time reaching the areas of the home that are the furthest away.

Consider the Moisture Performance

The primary purpose of an air conditioner is to remove the humidity from the air in your home, thereby causing it to become cooler. As such, you’ll want to be sure that you carefully consider the efficiency with which a unit can remove this humidity from the air. The abilities of these units vary, and not all air conditioners are created equally in this regard. Your unit must be able to sufficiently remove enough humidity from the air to keep you comfortable during even the hottest, stickiest days.

Don’t Go Too Large

One of the most common mistakes that homeowners make when purchasing a new air conditioner is purchasing one that is simply too large for their homes. While it may seem as if the unit would run more efficiently, this isn’t the case. Consider this: a unit that is too large will cycle on and off more rapidly. This alone causes plenty of problems, including more wear and tear on the unit and higher electricity bills. Furthermore, because the unit will cycle on and off so quickly, it will not have the ability to adequately remove the moisture from the air in your home. It is very important to choose a unit that is the right size for your new home.
If you have questions about different air conditioners, or if you are confused about your load calculation results, then please contact us here at A Superior Air Conditioning. We are always available to discuss different products and applications with you, and we will be more than happy to provide you with estimates for our professional installation services.

Happy New Year!!

The Fed taper is officially happening. Starting in January, the Fed will cut back its bond buying by $10B per month. This is good news in general, in that it means the Fed sees the economy strengthening to the point where it can start to pull back the artificial support it is providing.  In the latter half of 2013, just on the speculation that this taper was coming, mortgage rates went up around 1.00%.  What will happen now that it is officially here?

While the Fed is merely reducing its $85B in bond purchases to $75B and still providing a great deal of stimulus to prop up the economy, it is expected that rate volatility will be higher in 2014.  A recent AP article states  “Homebuyers aren’t going to be happy,” says Ellen Haberle, an economist at the online real-estate brokerage Redfin. “In the weeks ahead, mortgage rates are likely to reach or exceed 5 percent.”  However, one good thing is that if the economy is truly recovering and improving, then consumer jobs and income levels should also improve to bring new homebuyers into the market.

Another important factor is the stock market which is at all-time high levels right now. The Fed included language in its taper announcement to help ease the market’s fears. It stated it will keep the Fed Funds rate where it is now between 0% and 0.25% for the foreseeable future and not increase it until unemployment drops below 6.50%. Normally what is seen when bond prices rise is that the market declines.  However, with the Fed’s statement, bond prices rose, and the market also increased.

Many are now expecting a market correction as the recent large gains are based on an economy that is reported to be improving, but is currently falsely supported by the artificial low interest rate environment created by the Fed.  Many economists are predicting a substantial stock market correction in 2014, and if this happens, investors may flock back to the safety of bonds, which would in turn have the impact of lowering rates.

Another important factor to watch that may have a larger influence over where mortgage rates and lending take shape in 2014 is related to the loan programs themselves.  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which control 2/3 of the mortgage market recently announced they would be increasing overall guarantee fees as well as raising loan-level guarantee fees to lenders where the borrowers have good, but not the best credit.  Experts predicted this would increase mortgage rates from 0.25% to 0.40%.

The good news in this is that the incoming regulator for these two agencies, U.S. Representative Mel Watt, has delayed the increases to allow time to study the impact of the increased pricing.

So where are rates headed in 2014?  While no one knows for sure, all indicators seem  to point towards a long term continued higher rate trend. They cannot stay at these low levels forever.  I would predict a 0.50% to 1.00% increase over the course of the year with a lot of volatility in between.

It may be years from now, but the day will eventually arrive sooner or later, when the Fed is not artificially controlling interest rates to keep them low and the focus is on fighting inflation. We all know raising rates is one of the Feds favorite tools to fend off inflationary pressure.  Those who have purchased houses and obtained long term low rate financing at today’s rates will be pleased to know they did so at the right time.  If you are in the market to buy  a new residence, 2nd home, vacation home or investment property there is no better time than now to get pre-qualified, contact your Realtor and start shopping.

Whether you are heating or cooling your home, ensuring that your system is as efficient as possible is one of the most important things you can do to make sure that you are getting the most value for your energy dollars. There are some great tips to consider that will definitely help you save money.

Consider Installation in the Conditioned Space

If your home is in the process of being designed, you may want to consider having your ducts installed within the conditioned spaces in your home rather than under the floors. This is because even the most well-insulated and properly constructed ducts are going to leak some heated or cooled air and it is best to make use of this air in your home rather that under it. Oftentimes, ducts can be installed in drop ceilings and even in the corners of rooms. This minimizes the aesthetic effect while helping to reduce wasted energy dollars.

Make Sure Vents are Not Blocked or Clogged

The next thing that you can do to help improve your furnace or air conditioner’s efficiency is make sure that the vents themselves are not being blocked. Though this seems simple, having a large piece of furniture close to a vent blocks a significant portion of the air that you are paying to heat or cool. Move sofas, draperies and more out of the way of these vents to realize more savings. Similarly, it is important to vacuum your vents from time to time to remove debris. This is as simple as it sounds as long as your vacuum cleaner has a hose attachment.

Upgrade the Ductwork

Older homes and those which have the ductwork installed under the floors often suffer from trouble with heating or cooling one or two rooms. While this can certainly cause discomfort to the occupants of those rooms, the fix isn’t always difficult. In fact, simply installing a new return air grille or undercutting the door to allow for more airflow can fix these problems. Next, homeowners should take the time to ensure that their walls are properly insulated and that windows are sealed when shut to prevent heated and cooled air from escaping.

Insulate the Ducts

If the ducts in your home are located under the floor, it is always worthwhile to have them insulated. This way, you are not losing energy to the outdoor air as heated and cooled air passes through the ducts. Typical insulation will do the job, but if you aren’t up for the task then it can certainly be performed professionally. Many homeowners are shocked by the amount of money they can save when they invest in new insulation for their ductwork. 

All in all, saving money is about keeping the air that you are paying to heat and cool inside your home where it belongs. When it loses energy as it travels through the ducts, it becomes inefficient and costly. For an evaluation of your ductwork, don’t hesitate to contact us here at A Superior Air Conditioning. Our friendly professionals will evaluate your situation and provide you with the answers you need.

If you are looking into purchasing a new air conditioner at some point in the future, then you will likely come across a term known as ‘SEER rating’. This stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating and it can give you a good idea of the amount of money you are likely to spend on energy should you purchase any given unit.

How the Rating is Calculated

The SEER rating for any air conditioner is calculated by measuring the amount of cooled air that it puts out for every unit of energy it consumes. Each matched system (meaning both the indoor and outdoor parts of the entire unit) is given an Energy Efficiency Rating for the consumer to consider in much the same way miles per gallon are considered when purchasing a new car. The higher the efficiency rating, the less it will cost to cool your home in the long run. Similarly, air conditioners with a high SEER are better for the environment because less energy is expended as your home is being cooled.

Ratings and Government Mandates

Since January of 2006, the federal government has required that all new air conditioners have a SEER of at least 13, but there are some units out there with ratings as high as SEER-18 and even SEER-23. Most professionals recommend that consumers purchase units that have at least a SEER-16 rating, but this is especially true in the Florida area because the units run more often here than in other parts of the country. Of course, the amount of difference that the rating makes for you depends upon the size of your home, the age of your air conditioner and more. The SEER number is only at its peak when the unit is properly maintained, too.

Huge Savings – Monetarily and Environmentally

As an example, consider a Florida homeowner who replaces an old, outdated, inefficient three-ton air conditioner with a new one that boasts a SEER-16 rating. The average operating life of a brand new air conditioner is about 12 years (though there are some that are guaranteed by the manufacturer for as many as 20) and the average cost of electricity per unit is $0.11 per kWh. Over the lifetime of the new unit, that homeowner will save more than $2,000 in operating costs and prevent more than 300,000 metric tons of harmful greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. That is the equivalent of taking three cars off the road or planting four acres of trees each and every year.

Choosing a Unit

With all of this information in mind, you should always check the SEER associated with an air conditioner that you are considering purchasing. Not only will this number tell you how much money you can expect to save, but it will also tell you how much good you will be doing for the environment. Every air conditioner brand in the industry must provide a SEER number to consumers and it can typically be found on a yellow tag like the one shown here.

For help with choosing a new air conditioner with the best SEER possible, please do not hesitate to contact us here at A Superior AC. We can help you choose the right size unit for your home, provide you with a professional installation, and make sure that your unit continues to operate at peak efficiency for years to come.