Your AC is the biggest consumer of electricity in your home, so if you want to lower your energy bills, that’s the best place to start. How many watts does your system need to use, and how do you get the most out of them? Here’s what you need to know about AC wattage.
AC Capacity
A central AC unit uses, on average, 1,000 watts of electricity per hour per ton of cooling it produces. A window AC uses between 500 and 1,500 watts per hour, depending on its size. Ductless mini-splits are more efficient, typically using between 800 and 850 watts per ton of cooling.
How many tons of cooling does your home need, though? It depends on a number of factors, but the rule of thumb is one ton of cooling for every 600 square feet of space. For an 1,800-square-foot home, that would mean an AC with a 3-ton cooling capacity, which would use 3,000 watts of electricity per hour.
SEER Ratings
The figures above are only averages. If you want to use less AC wattage, pay attention to your unit’s SEER rating. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio measures how much cooling your unit produces for the amount of AC wattage it uses over the course of a given cooling season. A higher SEER rating will provide you the same cooling capacity with less overall wattage. The minimum SEER rating in Ohio is 14, but the most efficient central AC units on the market are rated up to 26.
To ensure you get the most efficient system, first look at the yellow EnergyGuide label. It will tell you how many watts the system uses annually on average and its estimated yearly operating cost, as well as how it compares to other, similar models. You should also look for the blue Energy Star logo, which indicates that the unit is rated among the most efficient models for its type and price range.
For help getting the best AC wattage for your home, contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services. We’re Dayton’s trusted source for quality home-comfort solutions.
