Staying comfortable during the Coastal Bend’s sultry summers requires an air conditioner that can control both heat and humidity. While an A/C with a high cooling rating (SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) helps you save energy, it won’t necessarily keep you more comfortable. SEER doesn’t take the system’s dehumidification capacity into account and ultra-high SEER systems (SEER 18 to 24.5) are less effective at reducing humidity than older systems were. What’s more, SEER doesn’t reflect the system’s efficiency at start-up, a point when efficiency is relatively low.
The A/C-Enhancer addresses both these issues: controlling humidity and energy costs. A small device that can be installed in your current A/C equipment, the A/C-Enhancer improves dehumidification performance and increases energy efficiency.
When your air conditioner runs, the inside evaporator coil can collect as much as three gallons of water. Some of that moisture is still on the coil when the system starts again. It takes around 8 to 10 minutes after start-up for the system to reach peak operating efficiency and start dehumidifying. During that time, moisture from the coil re-evaporates into your home’s air.
The A/C-Enhancer delays the blower start-up until the temperature of the inside coil is below the dew point, the temperature below which moisture in the air condenses into water. It then gradually brings the blower up to full speed, allowing the compressor to start with a reduced load and reach peak efficiency faster.
In short, the A/C-Enhancer:
- Prevents moisture from the coil from re-evaporating into your home’s air.
- Allows the air conditioner to start dehumidifying the air sooner.
- Starts the air conditioner more efficiently, bringing it to peak efficiency in as little as two minutes.
Because reduced humidity helps you feel cooler, you may be able to raise your thermostat a few degrees to save even more on your cooling expenses.
The A/C-Enhancer works on nearly any type of air conditioner, but it can only be found at authorized dealerships and installed by an authorized technician trained to set the device up for optimal performance. If you’re interested in controlling humidity and energy costs with the A/C-Enhancer, please contact us at Mathews CCAC Inc. in Corpus Christi.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about A/C-Enhancers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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