Proudly Serving West Michigan & Southwest Michigan
(616) 207-4097
When it comes to cooling, many people still opt for a traditional central air conditioning system. While there’s no doubt that a central AC system will work effectively and keep a house cool, there are other options that are much more energy efficient.
That’s why it’s important to give some careful thought to what you want to install if you’re looking to add a cooling system to your home or need to replace an old system. Here are some cooling solutions worth considering.
Heat Pumps
Installing a heat pump is a great alternative to a standard central AC. Heat pumps aren’t necessarily any more energy efficient when cooling, as they work the same way as central ACs. Where they stand out is in the fact that they can also provide effective heating during the winter and are typically at least three times more efficient than furnaces and almost all other types of heating. That means that upgrading to a heat pump is the best way to lower your heating bills.
Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems
Standard ACs and heat pumps have a single-stage compressor and always operate at full power. Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems have a variable-speed compressor that continually slows down or speeds up based on the current temperature in the house and how much cooling you currently need.
Most systems can slow down to the point where they only use 25%-30% of the energy they do when running at full power. Instead of running at full power for a short time, a VRF system runs for a long time or even continuously at as low a speed as possible. This ensures every part of the house remains fully cool, and the temperature never fluctuates by more than 1 or 2 degrees.
Ductless Mini-Split Systems
A ductless mini-splits can also be a good alternative to central cooling. Mini-splits have multiple indoor units that are each responsible for cooling the room or part of the house they’re in. The majority of mini-splits have a VRF heat pump, allowing for highly efficient cooling and heating. In addition to gaining efficiency, you can control the temperature in each room independently.
Zoned Cooling Systems
A zoned cooling system has metal dampers at different points in the supply ductwork that break up different parts of the house into individual zones. Each zone has a thermostat that sends a signal for the damper to open when that zone needs to be cooled and then to close once that zone is at the right temperature. Zoned systems typically have a VRF AC or heat pump that will continually adjust the speed of the compressor based on how many zones currently need cooling. Being able to control the temperature in each zone independently helps make a zoned system more efficient than a standard single-zone VRF system.
Tips for Improving Cooling Efficiency
No matter what type of cooling system you have, there are various ways to help it perform more efficiently or at least reduce the amount of energy it uses. Two things that always help in terms of efficiency are scheduling annual maintenance and replacing the air filter at least every 90 days. Taking any or all of these other steps will also help cut down on energy consumption while keeping your home cool.
Program Your Thermostat
Although most homes have a programmable or smart thermostat, studies show that a significant percentage of people don’t actually bother to program their thermostat. Not programming your thermostat always creates issues with either increased energy consumption or decreased comfort.
If you leave your thermostat always set to the most comfortable temperature, your cooling system will run unnecessarily when no one is home and use much more energy. If you just manually turn the temperature up before leaving for work, you’ll come home to your house being hotter than you want it to be. Programming your thermostat so that the temperature increases by a few degrees when you leave in the morning and then switches back to the normal temperature before you return avoids these issues.
Switch to a Smart Thermostat
Installing a smart thermostat will save you even more money than using a normal programmable thermostat. Most smart thermostats have a sensor and learning capabilities that allow them to determine the household’s daily routines and adjust the temperature at different times accordingly.
Many units also have various other features that allow them to know if the house is occupied. When no one is home for a certain amount of time, the thermostat will switch to away mode and turn the temperature up to reduce the amount of energy the cooling system uses. Smart thermostats are also much more convenient since they allow you to monitor and adjust the temperature using an app.
Make Sure Your Home Has Sufficient Ventilation
Ventilation plays a crucial role in both comfort and indoor air quality. Poorly ventilated homes tend to have major issues with stale, polluted air, as there’s no way to bring fresh air in from outside. Without adequate ventilation, the air will also often be humid and muggy during the summer, resulting in the house being less comfortable.
One of the best options for ensuring your home is sufficiently ventilated is installing a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). This type of unit has one fan that pulls the stale, hot air out of the house at exhausts it outside. At the same time, another fan spins in the opposite direction and brings fresh air in. However, the unit also has a heat exchanger that draws most of the heat out of the incoming air before it gets pumped into the house and transfers the heat to the outgoing air. This ensures that the ventilator doesn’t just bring hot air in and raise the temperature in the house.
Run Dehumidifiers to Lessen the Load on Your Cooling System
Cooling systems always work more efficiently and perform more effectively when the air inside the house is drier. If you have central cooling, installing a whole-home dehumidifier is an effective way to lower your energy bills and keep your house more comfortable. Running portable dehumidifiers will also help, but the only way you’ll get the same effect as you do with a whole-house device is if you have multiple units running in different parts of your house.
Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
Duct cleaning also helps enhance cooling efficiency by improving airflow. Air can’t flow through dirty ducts as smoothly, as all the debris causes it to encounter increased resistance. Weak airflow results in decreased cooling performance and longer cooling cycles, leading to an increase in energy usage.
Make Use of Ceiling Fans
Running ceiling fans won’t make your cooling system any more efficient, as fans don’t cool the air. However, they do produce a nice breeze that makes a room feel cooler. If you have any ceiling fans running in the room you’re in, you can turn the temperature on your thermostat up a few degrees to decrease the amount of work your cooling system has to do.
Service Professor is the name to trust for cooling and heating services in West and Southwest Michigan. We’ve been in business for over 45 years and have a team of experienced technicians who can assist with all of your home comfort needs.
To schedule service and see why we’re the company so many Michigan homeowners depend on, contact us today.
