Do you have any questions about your air conditioner’s operations? Call Leith Heating & Cooling for all the answers you need.
You probably love how your reliable old air conditioner helps keep your home cool and comfortable in the summer months here in Elgin, IL, when temperatures cross into the mid-80s. However, you find yourself running your finger across the energy bill at the end of each month. So, you’re stuck scratching your head and wondering, “Do old AC units use more electricity?”
The team at Leith Heating & Cooling, Elgin’s professional AC repair contractor, covers all you need to know about the topic in this post. Learn more about the electric usage of outdated AC units today.
Old Air Conditioners and Energy Usage in Elgin, IL
Do old AC units use more electricity overall? In most cases, they do. As air conditioners age, they lose some of their efficiency. Maintenance can slow the rate of electricity usage in aging AC systems, but the efficiency loss still happens.
This means that the air conditioner will need more energy to meet up with your cooling needs compared to a newer unit.
Factors Affecting the Efficiency of Vintage Air Conditioners
The energy consumption of older AC units is often higher due to the following reasons.
Compressor Wear and Tear
The compressor is arguably the heartbeat of your air conditioning unit. It controls the evaporation and condensation of the refrigerant during the heat exchange process as your air conditioner works. Your air conditioner will not keep your home cool in the dog days of summer if the compressor is malfunctioning.
The compressors in air conditioners are powerful enough to withstand some wear and tear, but only to a certain point. As the years roll by, the compressor will gradually need more energy to complete its function.
Refrigerant Leaks
An older air conditioner has taken a lot of beating over the years. Therefore, there’s a high chance that it has some cracks in the evaporator or condenser coils, which must have reduced the quantity of refrigerant running through the system.
Without the full complement of refrigerant in the unit, it will work harder to absorb energy from your indoor space, which means more energy usage.
This is one of the most common causes of reduced energy efficiency in aging air conditioners.
Lack of Maintenance
Preventative maintenance can help avert a laundry list of air conditioning problems. However, many homeowners in Elgin, IL, only adhere to a maintenance schedule for their air conditioners within the first few years of buying it. As the unit ages, they ignore it until an issue arises.
Such an air conditioner will likely struggle more than usual to cool the indoor space due to the combination of various minor issues that can hamper the heat exchange process. Simple maintenance work, such as cleaning the coils and replacing the air filters, can significantly improve the air conditioner’s function.
Excessive Use
During the hottest days of summer, many homeowners in Elgin, IL, use their air conditioners at full tilt round-the-clock to keep their indoor space comfortable. However, this usage habit isn’t a good idea.
You should turn up the temperature when you’re away from home, just enough to avoid coming home to a hot box. You should also turn up the temperature when you’re about to retire for the night, as temperatures can drop by up to 20 degrees on most nights.
Excessive usage leads to higher energy bills, regardless of the air conditioner’s age. However, the impact might be a lot more noticeable with an older air conditioner due to the other influencing factors we’ve covered here.
Lower SEER Ratings
Why do old AC units use more electricity even with regular maintenance? You may have to look at the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) numbers. This rating provides a quick glance into the air conditioner’s energy efficiency at specific times of the year.
The rating measures how much electricity your air conditioner needs to remove a specific amount of heat from your indoor space. A higher number means a higher energy efficiency. Therefore, it can give you an idea of the power consumption of older AC models.
The Department of Energy (DOE) sets the minimum rating for air conditioners periodically. Currently, the minimum SEER rating for new air conditioners in Elgin, Illinois, is 14. The most efficient systems have SEER ratings as high as 25.
However, there’s no law against using older units with lower efficiency ratings. So, people with older air conditioners with SEER ratings far lower than 14 are not under compulsion to replace them. Therefore, their units will consume more energy while in use.
Keep in mind that the energy consumption of older AC units is often worse than their SEER ratings might suggest. An air conditioner with a SEER rating of 13 will likely operate closer to an 11 SEER efficiency after a decade of wear and tear — even with regular maintenance.
The difference in energy consumption between the different SEER levels is also significant. For example:
- A SEER 13 air conditioner is 23% more energy efficient than a SEER 10 unit.
- A SEER 19 air conditioner is 37% more energy efficient than the SEER 12 unit and 26% more energy efficient than a SEER 14 unit.
- A SEER 25 air conditioner is 58% more energy efficient than a SEER 10 unit and 42% more energy efficient than a SEER 14 unit.
Equipment Sizing Mismatch
Sometimes, the drop in the air conditioner’s cooling performance is due to changes in your living conditions over the years. For example, an air conditioner originally sized to cool your living areas may lose efficiency if it has to work hard to also cool your recently finished basement or attic.
Get Quality Air Conditioning Services From Your Local Experts in Elgin, IL
Now you know the answer to the question, “Do old AC units use more electricity?” If your AC smells musty and consumes too much energy, it may be time for a replacement.
Call Leith Heating & Cooling in Elgin, IL, today at 847-534-8686 to schedule a consultation.