Why Purchasing a High-Efficiency Air Conditioner Is the Cool Thing to Do

heating and air conditioning residential units

Congratulations! You are ready to purchase a new air conditioner (AC) for your Ocean City home. You dealt with one too many repairs with the old model, and it is time to say goodbye.

A new air conditioner will improve your comfort in many ways. It controls the humidity levels in your home, improves your indoor air quality (IAQ), and lowers your carbon footprint.


But choosing the model for your home can get a little tricky, considering all the features a new air conditioner has to offer. At Broadley’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, our team will help you every step of the way with your purchase to ensure you get the most value out of your investment.


New AC vs. Old AC

Those older AC units were not environmentally friendly—they did their job but not very efficiently. These days, more stringent operating standards are in place. Newer models are much better at converting energy into cooling, creating less pollution while lowering your utility bills.

A well-maintained unit operates at peak capacity for about 15 years. At the 10-year mark, it pays to start monitoring those repair calls and how efficiently your air conditioner runs on those muggy, hot days along the Jersey Shore.

Even if your air conditioner is only 10 years old, the US Department of Energy (DOE) estimates you may save up to 40 percent of your cooling energy costs by replacing it with a more efficient model.


If you still think the old model has a little zip left in the tank, give us a call. We’ll provide you with an honest assessment on whether it makes sense to maintain your current system or replace it with an upgrade.

How Much Should I Spend on a New Air Conditioner?

Here’s the deal: when you buy a new vehicle, it immediately begins to depreciate the moment you drive it out of the sales lot. With heating and cooling equipment, it’s the opposite. A new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system adds tremendous value to your New Jersey home—not to mention the comfort and cost savings that come with it.

So yes, we recommend planning a budget and purchasing a high-efficiency system within your price range. Do not cut corners here. You will run your air conditioner often during our hot New Jersey summers, especially on those days when you return from the beach.

Always be on the lookout for rebates and other incentives, but try to go with the top models when you plan to replace your old AC unit. You might pay a little more upfront, but you’ll enjoy lower energy bills, fresh air, less humidity, and fewer repair calls for years to come.

Just the AC Facts

The term SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It measures an air conditioner’s cooling efficiency—generally speaking, you want to purchase an air conditioning unit with a SEER rating of 14 or higher.

The minimum standard SEER rating for modern air conditioners is 13. Older units typically have SEER ratings at around 7 or 8. No matter what model you purchase, it is more than likely a significant upgrade over your current system.

Visit our air conditioner service page to calculate your cost savings by moving up in SEER ratings.

Size means a lot in the heating and cooling industry. If you buy an air conditioner too large for your Ocean City home, it will cycle too often. That causes your bills to spike and increases the wear and tear on your equipment. Our team will do the necessary load calculations to determine the exact size air conditioner for your needs.

What About My Furnace?

Great question! If your furnace is older than 10 years, this is a no-brainer: replace both components together. Even if your furnace has a few more good years of service, the money you’ll save by combining these two purchases is worth it.

Call Your Air Conditioner Experts Today

When choosing a new air conditioner for your Ocean City, NJ, home, you can trust our team at Broadley’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning to get the job done right. Call us at 609-390-3907 for a free consultation or request an estimate online today.