Get Ready for Summer With High-Efficiency AC Units

A broken AC during a July heatwave isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s expensive. Emergency service calls routinely run 2–3× the standard labor rate, and when every HVAC technician in your city is booked solid, the wait time can be excruciating. The homeowners who avoid that scenario aren’t lucky. They’re prepared with high efficiency AC units.

The average household spends $1,000–$2,000 per year on home cooling costs, and aging, inefficient systems can push that number significantly higher. This is why more and more Marin and Sonoma County homeowners are turning toward high-efficiency AC units for their cooling needs.

As of 2023, the HVAC industry transitioned to SEER2 ratings, a more rigorous efficiency standard, and the Inflation Reduction Act unlocked meaningful federal tax credits for qualifying AC upgrades. So what are the best upgrade decisions you can make for your AC right now before the summer heat begins and you risk dealing with problems from an out-of-date system?

Why Smart Thermostats are the First Step to High-Efficiency AC Units

A smart thermostat is a fantastic upgrade to your HVAC system that can improve your home’s cooling and save you a significant amount of energy. They can even qualify for rebates through providers, with either savings on purchases or even free products.

A smart thermostat prevents cooling an empty house. Through geofencing technology, the device detects when your cell phone leaves a defined radius around your home and automatically adjusts the temperature to an energy-saving setpoint. When you’re heading back, it starts cooling again, so the house is comfortable by the time you walk in. The thermostat can begin to learn your schedule and preferences from this, creating a cooling routine that keeps your house at a comfortable level during the warm weather.

According to efficiency data from leading smart thermostat manufacturers, these devices can reduce cooling bills by 10–15% simply by optimizing run times around your actual schedule.

Other benefits of upgrading to a smart thermostat include:

• The ability to change the settings of your AC from wherever you are
• Occupancy sensors that can detect if someone is in a room or not, and adjust the temperature accordingly for further energy savings
• Tracking that monitors your system’s health and flags potential maintenance issues early
• Humidity monitoring that helps distinguish genuine discomfort from air quality issues

Pro Tip: Check your utility provider’s website before purchasing. Many offer instant rebates that bring a $199 thermostat down to under $75 after discounts.

The Efficiency Powerhouse: Air-Source Heat Pumps

If you’re ready to move from incremental savings to a genuine efficiency transformation, air-source heat pumps can be a tremendous long-term investment for a more comfortable home and substantial savings on energy and expenses. Heat pumps also meet the minimum SEER2 ratings from the Department of Energy.

Busting the “Heating-Only” Myth

Many homeowners mentally file heat pumps under “winter equipment.” In practice, a modern air-source heat pump functions as a full-time cooling system, extracting heat from inside your home and moving it outdoors. The technology handles both heating and cooling from a single installation, which means you’re not adding a system; you’re replacing two with one smarter solution. The smart thermostat benefits can further this efficiency by making sure this already reduced amount of energy is not wasted.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, high-efficiency heat pumps can significantly reduce electricity use for heating and cooling compared to conventional systems. Since they are transferring heat rather than generating it, they can save a large amount of energy in the colder months, but they work in reverse during the summer to provide you with efficient cooling.

The HVAC Tax Credits Opportunity You Shouldn’t Miss

Though heat pump installation can appear costly upfront, there are multiple rebates and incentives available. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, homeowners who install qualifying air-source heat pumps are eligible for federal tax credits up to $2,000, a direct reduction in what you owe at tax time, not just a deduction. That’s a meaningful offset against an average installed cost of $5,000–$8,000.

However, eligibility requirements apply. The unit must meet specific efficiency thresholds, so you should confirm qualifying models with your HVAC contractor before purchasing.

Targeted Cooling: Solving ‘Hot Spots’ with Ductless Mini-Splits

The unfortunate truth about even the most efficient central cooling system is that air doesn’t always reach every corner of your home equally. That spare bedroom over the garage is sweltering, or the basement home office can become sweltering and feel disconnected from the rest of the house. Not only is this problem uncomfortable, but it can also be a serious efficiency problem with your system.

The culprit is often the ductwork itself. According to Energy.gov, leaky or uninsulated ductwork can account for 20–30% of energy loss in a central air system. This can mean that conditioned air is literally bleeding out before it ever arrives at its destination.

Ductless mini-splits directly solve this by delivering cooled air exactly where it’s needed with no ducts required.

Ductless mini-splits are a type of heat pump that provides zoned cooling in your home. They work just like a heat pump, but without ductwork to transfer heat in or out of your home. They consist of one outdoor unit and one or multiple indoor units mounted on the walls of your home to deliver heating and cooling to each different room in your home.

What makes these units so efficient is that you can set different temperatures for each room in your home. You can turn off cooling in rooms you are not using and set desired temperatures in each of the different areas you are using. Zoned cooling means you’re only conditioning occupied spaces, not running a whole-home system at full capacity for two people watching TV in one room. It also means you maintain independent temperature control without affecting the rest of the house.

The ‘Invisible’ AC Upgrade: Air Quality and Insulation

We’ve addressed efficient ways your heating and cooling system can generate and distribute air, but keeping that air clean and actually inside your home is just as important. These two often-overlooked AC upgrades work silently in the background, yet they directly affect both your comfort and how hard your AC has to work every single day, ultimately determining its lifespan and efficiency. Local HVAC technicians can assist with determining the best course of action when it comes to air quality and purification.

Air Purification

Air purification systems and air filters installed in your HVAC unit are a good way to ensure better indoor air quality. Filters in your heating and cooling system can help to catch debris such as dust, pet dander, and other allergens that can contaminate your air and your system. UV light air purification systems can be installed directly into HVAC coils to eliminate mold and allergens. Source: Scotts Air / IAQ Research

Unhealthy air quality can cause serious health problems, especially in the summer, when heat can already lead to respiratory struggles. Air purification techniques, such as whole-home air filters, ultraviolet sterilizers, and electronic air cleaners, are viable solutions. HVAC experts can also help you to find the best purifier for allergies or any other specific air quality concerns you have.

Insulation and Air Leaks

Whether you’ve chosen a ductless mini-split or a central air system, none of it matters much if cool air escapes through a poorly insulated attic or leaky walls. Attic insulation acts as a thermal barrier, reducing the heat load your AC fights against all summer. A well-insulated attic can meaningfully lower indoor temperatures before the AC even cycles on.

Equally important is sealing gaps around windows and doors. When there are openings along doors and windows, the air you are paying for can go straight outside, forcing your HVAC system to put in more unnecessary effort and meaning your house will take longer to cool than it should.

Proper AC Maintenance is Key

Every single AC system, no matter how efficient or what the SEER2 ratings are, will require upkeep to continue functioning to the best of its ability. A cleanly running system will deliver the best results, allowing you to feel the full heat pump and smart thermostat benefits. Cleaning ducts, making sure outdoor debris is not covering your unit outside, checking that insulation remains intact, cleaning condenser coils, and routinely changing air filters are all important parts of maintaining an effectively running and long-lasting system throughout the summer months. Neglect basic maintenance, and you risk sacrificing efficiency regardless of how much you’ve invested.

Here’s your end-of-season checklist:

1. Clean condenser coils: Rinse outdoor coils with a garden hose to remove dust, pollen, and grime buildup
2. Swap filters on a schedule: During high-pollen summers, replace filters every 30 days instead of the standard 90
3. Clear outdoor unit debris: Keep a two-foot clearance around the unit; blocked airflow is a silent efficiency killer
4. Clean out air ducts: If you have ductwork, make sure to clean it out before planning to use your system regularly in the summer so that dust, pollen, and other pollutants aren’t circulating in your home
5. Check on insulation: Make sure that the insulation in your attic is still good and that there are no gaps that need to be sealed around doors and windows

Of course, you can always hire a local HVAC contractor for annual maintenance to make sure you get a complete and thorough job. Having maintenance from a heating and cooling professional before the cooling season begins is a good idea to make sure your system is not having any hidden issues that could lead to emergencies in the middle of the summer.

Hiring the Best AC Contractor for the Job

If you are planning on getting on top of air conditioning upgrades as soon as possible, before the hot temperatures start up again, you will need to consult a heating and cooling professional you can trust. John Owens Services has been serving customers in the Marin and Sonoma County areas with home services for forty years, including heat pump installation and air quality services. Our HVAC technicians are well-versed in all of the latest heating and AC technology. When you are looking for any AC upgrade or new installation, we are the experts who can come out to your home and perform an analysis to determine what type of system will best suit your home and your budget.

Our goal is always to make your home as efficient as possible. Whether making sure you can enjoy zoned cooling in your home or smart thermostat benefits, we want your air conditioning to fit your cooling needs at all times. We are committed to installing a perfectly operating system, such as an air-source heat pump or ductless mini-split, that will provide you with adequate cooling during the summer for years to come while saving you from unnecessarily expensive energy bills.

Key Takeaways

• Smart thermostats are key — Smart thermostats can save you from unnecessary energy usage and stress on your system
• Upgrade to an efficient HVAC system — A ductless mini-split or air-source heat pump installation can significantly increase energy efficiency
• Air quality is vital — Using good system filters and air purification techniques helps ensure the air you are paying for does not damage your health
• Keep up with maintenance — Properly maintaining heating and air conditioning equipment is what makes systems last
• Call an expert — When trying to decide on which AC upgrade will benefit your household, call on the best AC contractor in the business, John Owens Services