High Rated A/C Can Save You 40% on Cooling Costs

A higher rated air conditioner can save a lot of money. Electrical costs can increase by over $200 or more during the hot months in Daytona Beach. New air conditioners may have a better rating than older units and at $200/month for cooling, the savings can be up to $70-$90 per month or more during the hot months.

The rating for air conditioner is the SEER rating. The SEER rating is the seasonal energy efficiency ratio. Basically it means how much energy is required to cool. Many older units are rated at 8. The newest units can have a rating as high as 16, but many newer units are 13.

So what’s the difference between a SEER rating of 8 and a SEER rating of 13? The A/C unit with a rating of 13 will use 35% less electricity than the unit with the 8 rating. With the cost of energy, that’s a big, big deal.

So if one home you are looking at buying has the 8 rating, and another has the 13 rating, you can expect to spend about $70 less per month on electricity. Figuring seven hot months per year, you will be saving $490 per year for an average of about $41 every month. If the SEER is even higher that savings will be more.

We  are presenting this tip because these are some of the things that are seldom considered when comparing homes. Some of the others are the size of the hot water heater. In Florida, cooling is the number one energy cost, but water heating is usually second.

Hot Water Heater Savings

What’s the size of the water heater. An 80 gallon tank vs. a 40 gallon tank will cost roughly double. I’ve seen the cost estimate for a 40 gallon unit at roughly $240. This will vary depending upon usage. A 80 gallon unit with be roughly double that of $480. You can see the difference.

Now if you have a large family and they all bath or take showers at close to the same time, the 80 gallon unit is probably needed. But, if you are single, a couple or small family, the smaller hot water heater can save you more money.

So if Home A has an 8 SEER A/C and an 80 gallon hot water heater, and Home B has an 13 SEER A/C, you could be saving $720 a year or $60 every month by buying Home B.

Conclusion

Look at all cost associated with buying a home, but also look at the cost to maintain that home and the monthly utilities. It’s the total cost that we pay in the end, so we should know that these cost are so that we can make smarter home buying decisions. There are so many Daytona condos and Daytona homes to choose from, that taking a little extra time can result in big long-term savings.

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