A Two-Stage Cooling System Is Ideal For San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Conejo Valley Homeowners

Last updated 9 months ago

By Greg, Pacific Aire Comfort Advisor,

For homeowners in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Conejo valleys, a two-stage cooling system is better than a single-stage system. A standard efficiency central air conditioner with a single-stage compressor produces 100 percent output 100 percent of the time.

But only on the hottest days in Southern California — no more than 20 percent of the time — is full compressor output necessary. The rest of the time, you’re just wasting energy, creating noise and putting excess wear and tear on components. High-efficiency air conditioners with SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) ratings over 16 offer a two-stage cooling system. When the cooling load permits, the compressor automatically drops from 100 percent to 67 percent output.

Here’s how that extra stage benefits you:

Single-stage compressors cycle on and off frequently, producing an “all or nothing at all” cooling effect. A two-stage compressor operating at a lower output runs more continuously and cools more consistently. This eliminates the frequent “off” periods when rooms can rapidly heat up, requiring more energy to cool them down.
The compressor consumes less electricity at the lower output stage. The cooling portion of your household electricity costs can be reduced by up to 30 percent with a two-stage cooling system.
Systems with two-stage compressors also incorporate a variable-speed blower that runs more continuously, but at a lower speed. This reduces airflow over the evaporator coil, extracting humidity from the air more efficiently than a single-stage unit with a one-speed blower. It also produces less noise — some two-stage units generate less than 69 decibels.
When you need 100 percent cooling, such as when you have to cool a hot house down in a hurry, a two-stage cooling system will sense the high cooling load and automatically switch to full output. High-efficiency technology incorporated in a two-stage unit will cool your home in half the time it takes an older one-stage system.

Serving San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Conejo Valley homeowners since 1990, Pacific Aire Heating & Cooling offers the latest technology and the highest service standards. Let us show you how a two-stage cooling system can increase your home comfort and decrease your energy costs.