​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​CenterPoint Energy’s Home Service Plus® Energy Efficient Air Conditioners​Keep cool with reliable, efficient air conditioning Did you know heating and cooling costs the average homeowner about $1000 a ​year? That is nearly half the home’s total annual energy bills! ​​ If your central air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old, replacing it with an ENERGY STAR® qualified model co​uld cut your cooling costs up to 30 percent. Center Point Energy’s Home Service Plus® offers you high efficiency air conditioners from tru​sted brands, likeReady to upgrade to a new air conditioner? Request in-home consultation​Buying your heating and cooling equipment is easy with Home Service Plus. Buyer’s Guide and FAQ’s on Air Conditioning to help answer some of your questions about purchasing a new air conditioner. ​​Call us at 612-342-4610 or contact us to schedule a

free in-home consultation​​ with a professional HSP representative, which will provide a step-by-step analysis of your current system. This free visit includes: ​ Measuring your home and providing a computerized heat loss/heat gain assessment that helps size the equipment to your home’s requirements Reviewing any code, comfort, noise, or other issues that will ensure proper design Offering expert installation from our authorized installers* Providing options on equipment and accessories from br​​​​​​​and name manufacturers  Suggesting additional services such as duct cleaning, if appropriate Preparing a comprehensive proposal for a system that best suits your needs and budget ​ REQUEST A FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION TODAY! *When buying new equipment, it is important to get quality installation. Make sure you get a contractor who can do the job right. For all the details of our comprehensive in-home consultation and air conditioner installation process, go to our

Sales and Installation Process page​. ​Deciding to install a new air conditioner is an important investment in your home. When comparing overall costs, labor and materials must also be included. The cost of the air conditioner itself will account for most of the expense, but labor can also be quite costly, depending on the amount of work that needs to be done. The following items will definitely impact how much you pay for having a new air conditioner installed. The size of the unit will ultimately determine the cost of the unit. Simply put, the larger the unit, the higher the cost. Central AC units are normally most expensive because they hook up to the duct work that runs throughout the entire home. When talking about air conditioners, the type of unit will determine how much work needs to be done during the installation process. A central air conditioning unit that is large enough to cool an entire home, may take several hours to install. Installing duct work, if needed, can be time consuming and expensive.

Air conditioner installers who don’t have to worry about the duct work can begin laying the pad for the outside unit. Once the unit is placed on the pad, incorporating the air conditioner into the home’s heating and cooling system is the next step.charging window unit air conditioner Certain areas of the country still offer rebates and tax credits for air conditioners that are installed in residential homes. fan motor for ac unitIn 2013, federal tax credits were discontinued, but many states offer rebates or tax credits for AC units that are rated for the highest energy efficiency. how long does an ac unit last in texasR-22 refrigerant, also known as “Freon,” is being phased out as of 2015, so it is important to look at air conditioners that use newer technology if you want to apply for a rebate or tax credit.

See also: Arizona Department of Revenue Tax Credits One of the best ways to lower the cost of having an air conditioner installed is to have as much of the prep work done as possible before the installers get there. With labor costs, it is important to make sure everything is ready for the installation when your appointment time arrives. With air conditioning units costing several thousand dollars you need to know exactly what size of unit you truly need to cool your home most efficiently. All in all, the total cost of an air conditioner installation for a home generally will average between $3,500 and $4, 500. At Howard Air, we will work with you to determine the right size of unit you will need and our expert technicians will handle the installation as efficiently as possible. Please contact us for more information. What is the most efficient thermostat setting for air conditioning? The best setting is the highest temperature at which you are comfortable. We recommend 78 degrees when you're home and 80 degrees while you are away.

As a rule, raising the thermostat setting just two degrees will reduce cooling costs by five percent. When I replace my central air conditioner, would it be more efficient to get a larger unit? Will it make the house more comfortable? It is best to get a properly sized unit. Although a larger unit may run for shorter periods of time, it will use more electricity due to its larger size. It may also fail to properly dehumidify the home. A properly sized unit will control both temperature and humidity, making the home more comfortable. What does the "EER" or "SEER" rating on an air conditioner mean? Both EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) and SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) are indicators of how efficient the unit is. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit and the lower the operating cost. SEER is used with central air conditioners, while EER is used with room air conditioners. For new central systems, SEERs of 12 or higher are generally considered high-efficiency units.

For room units, EERs of 11 or higher are considered high-efficiency. What is the recommended SEER rating for a central air conditioner? The current minimum requirement is 10.0 SEER. This is significantly more efficient than older units. Ratings of 11.0 to 12.0 are common, and will have lower operating costs. Units with SEERs as high as 15 are available. The more you use your central air conditioning, the more you will benefit from higher SEER ratings, and the more likely that the additional cost will be offset by energy savings. I have one room in my home that is always too hot in the summer. What can I do to make that room more comfortable? If the room has a large area of exposed glass, keep curtains or blinds closed during daylight hours, particularly at times when the sun would shine directly in. You might also ask your air conditioning contractor to check whether you are getting enough air in that room. There may be a problem with your duct system. Will ceiling fans help cool my home in summer, and should I run them constantly, even when my air conditioning is running?