Air Conditioning • Comfort Pro • HVAC Cooling off in the summer and early fall is a constant thought. No matter what your plans are for the day, you must figure out a way to stay cool to avoid heat strokes, sunburns, and other nasty problems that can occur. We want our neighbors to stay comfortable year-round. One of the primary concerns in terms of cooling a home is the cost. Heating and air conditioning accounted for 47.7% of the average U.S. household’s energy bill in 2009. In more recent years, electronic devices are taking over as the majority, but the cost of heating and cooling is continuing to rise as oil prices rise. Air Conditioning Unit Energy Consumption Air conditioning (AC) units are constantly running through the hot seasons to keep your home and offices cool. So just how much energy does it take to keep your home cool? Well, let’s take a look at the big picture first. The average U.S. household consumes about 700kW of energy each year, according to the .

Keep in mind this energy is spread across the seasons, not the seasons.parts to ac unit Now let’s jump into the specifics for AC consumption. ac power supply replacementIn reality, there is no guaranteed number. what are the best ac units for homesYou’ll just have to look at the specifications for your unit, specifically. The energy usage per unit truly varies a lot; however, we can give average estimates and examples of popular units that are installed. Here are some specifics: As the sizes of central ACs vary, the wattage will vary. The more tons you have, the more usage you’ll use. The 3500W average estimate is based on averages from 2.5 ton units. If you’re interested in installing a 2.5 ton unit, or already have one installed, then you’ll use anywhere between 3200W-3800W.

What Does “Large” or “Medium” Mean, Specifically? The real difference between small, medium, and large window units is the BTU. If you notice, when purchasing an AC they give you the square footage covered, which is based directly off of the BTU. Here are some estimates on large, medium, and small units in terms of their BTU for your reference: These numbers are all variants, as there are smaller units that go down to 3000 BTU and sometimes even lower. In fact, there are some window units that use up to 25000 BTU. These units use about 2600 Watts of energy to run. Central AC units can use a whole lot more than 3500 Watts of energy, but they can also use a whole lot less. It all depends on how efficiently you manage the system. Some of the factors affecting the energy usage of all air conditioners, which prevent specific estimations, include: What’s it going to Cost Me? Cooling your home can be costly if you don’t pay think it through. The cost to run an AC unit depends on the size of the unit, as well as the factors listed above.

However, the average costs for each size unit can be found below: The above estimates are based off of an energy rate of $0.14/kWh, and the unit is run for 16 hours/day. To lower your energy bill during the summer, take a look at some of and if you’re in need of AC maintenance, repairs, or installation!How to Choose an Air Conditioner Buying a room air conditioner: How big? One Size Doesn't Fit All Matching the air conditioner to the room you want to cool is your first consideration. If it's too small, it simply won't cool the space. If it's too large, it will cool the space so quickly that the thermostat will shut the unit down before it can lower the humidity level in the space. The result is a cool room that feels damp and clammy. Room air conditioners are "sized" according to their cooling capacity, expressed in Btu per hour. You'll find the rating on packaging or in product literature; it typically ranges from 5,000 to 25,000 Btu. Units below 12,000 Btu start at $250 to $300.

Those in the 12,000- to 15,000-Btu range cost from $450 to $600, while large units go up to $1,200. Air conditioners rated at 15,000 Btu should be enough to cool most rooms up to about 875 sq. ft. How do you get more precise than that? There are several different formulas. Most of the ones you'll see in stores simply compare the square footage of the room to Btu capacity. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), a Chicago-based industry trade group, offers a more complete formula that includes window area, sun exposure, insulation levels, how the room is used and other variables. How Much Do You Need? For a calculation of the cooling capacity your space requires, use our Air Conditioning Calculator. You can get a free copy of the formula from the AHAM fax-on-demand service or through the organization's site on the Web. Although the form looks daunting, it takes only a few minutes with a calculator and tape measure to figure out the square footage of the room and measure a few other variables.

Whichever way you determine the size you need, remember that for the 115V circuits typical of bedrooms and living rooms, you'll have to stay below 15,000 Btu; units above 15,000 Btu usually require a 230V circuit. And if you want to cool a large, open L- or T-shaped space, you're better off with two smaller units rather than one large one. "The goal is to keep the cold air from pooling on the floor," explains Hank Rutkowski, director of technical affairs for the Washington, D.C.-based Air Conditioning Contractors of America. "Two units prevent cold spots in front of the air conditioner and warm spots around the corner." Where to Find It Amana Home AppliancesAmana, IA 52204800-843-0304 The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers 20 N.Wacker Dr.Chicago, IL 60606312-984-5800 Box 4808Syracuse, NY 13221 Emerson415 Walbash Ave.Effingham, IL 62401800-332-6658 Fedders North America415 Walbash Ave.Effingham, IL 62401800-332-6658 Friedrich Air Conditioning Co.Box 1540San Antonio, TX 78295-1540800-541-6645