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Benefits of a 2-stage Air Conditioner

You probably know that the more efficient your home Air Conditioner is, the more you can reduce home energy costs and your environmental impact. Air Conditioners have long been an “energy hog,” but 2-stage systems offer improvements over older units and can reduce your energy consumption. As you gear up for summer, consider whether you’ll save by replacing an older unit with a new, 2-stage air conditioner. Because many two-stage units are Energy Star rated, they operate at maximum efficiency to reduce your utility costs.

What is a 2-Stage Air Conditioner?

dual-compressor-2-stage-operation

A two-stage Air Conditioner offers two different stages or settings of cooling, a high and low speed. Most of the time, these units run on low speed to cool your home effectively and without wasting energy. The low setting effectively cools your house during morning and evening hours and on days with moderately high temperatures. This can be optimal in cities like Denver where temperatures vary by tens of degrees throughout the course of the day. The high setting works well during heat waves and the hottest times of day. Best yet, you don’t need to manually adjust the unit settings from low stage to high; the Air Conditioner automatically adjusts between the two stages as necessary. The lower method is also quieter, since the compressor isn’t operating at such a high speed. If you’re sensitive to ambient environmental noise, you’ll appreciate the difference.

In contrast, standard systems only have one speed — high. When you turn a standard Air Conditioner unit on, it functions on high to cool your home to the desired temperature, using a lot of energy in the process. As a result, operating costs (and energy consumption) remains high. These units often cycle on/off frequently because they only operate on high speed. Over time, this can shorten the life of the compressor and the unit. Switching to a 2-stage system, and scheduling annual maintenance from a qualified technician, can extend your Air Conditioner’s performance and lifespan.

Rebates for 2-Stage Air Conditioners

Many top Air Conditioner manufacturers offer two-stage air conditioners, and some give rebates that can be an incentive for you to make this home upgrade. Rheem runs rebates on 2-stage units from April to July; Xcel offers up to a $1,000 rebate available all year round.

At Indoor Air Quality, our specialists have demonstrated experience installing and maintaining 2-stage air conditioners. To learn more about energy and cost savings with these units, contact us today.