Which Appliances Are Worth Upgrading To Save You Money?

Over the past several years, some appliances have made some giant leaps when it comes to energy saving. Here is a list of the appliances that are worth upgrading to be more energy efficient.

Air Conditioner

Central and Room Air Conditioners are well known to suck energy in the summer. A Room Air Conditioner’s efficiency is rated by an energy efficiency ratio (EER). Where the higher the number, the more efficient it is. Most modern retail air conditioners get a 10 EER rating. The older models from the 1990s rate closer to a 7. You can find your rating in your manual or a sticker on the side of the unit. If not, you can always search the manufacturer’s site to find it.

The average life of a Central Air Conditioner in Central Florida is 9 years. A Central Air Conditioner’s efficiency is rated by a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the number, the more efficient it is. If you have an older Central Air Conditioner (which has lower SEER – about 11.5), on average, you will be saving about 48% on your cooling bill by upgrading to a higher SEER.

Tip: Look for rebates with your power company and also for a lifetime warranty on your compressor.

Maintenance vs. Upgrade:

Upgrading will save you more money.

…Especially if you need a service call. If you have an older unit, maintenance can help, but you’re energy usage numbers won’t drop drastically. It helps to replace filters, clean coils, and manage the ducts on a regular basis though. If your unit is over 20 years old, it’s very much worth the upgrade.

Dishwasher

Modern Energy Star dishwashers use an average of 5.8 gallons of water per cycle, older dishwashers can use up to 10 gallons per cycle. That is a significant difference. The newer dishwashers also come a bit quieter and have greater cleaning abilities. The good news about that is that since it’s quiet, you can now take advantage of saving energy by running your dishwasher at night (depending on where you’re living you need to check your utility bill).

Maintenance vs. Upgrade:

Maintenance can save you money only if your dishwasher is a few years old. Check our previous posts about dishwasher maintenance to improve efficiency and save money.

Hot Water Heater

A water heater is another energy saving upgrade that has been made within the last few years. The water heater can amount to about 15 – 25 percent of the appliance energy consumed in the house. The newer models of water heaters are much more energy efficient than older models.

Maintenance vs. Upgrade:

Maintenance will help you save more money because the cost of upgrading a water heater can range from $300 - $1,200. You can increase efficiency on an old water heater by insulating the outside of the tank, or if you have a gas water heater, you can drain a gallon from the valve on the bottom once a month to remove the sediment that settles at the bottom.

Refrigerator

As everyone knows, this one is my favorite. Refrigerators have undergone huge energy efficient upgrades since 2000. The standard refrigerator now uses about 40 – 60 percent less energy than the models sold prior 2000. A top mount refrigerator (freezer on top) is more energy efficient that the side by side refrigerator.

Maintenance vs. Upgrade:

Upgrade.

The best thing you can do for your refrigerator to save money without upgrading to a newer, efficient model, is to keep your refrigerator running between 37 and 40 degrees.

Tip: You need to keep all foods and liquids covered to keep from releasing moisture, which will cause the compressor to kick on more often. For more tips check out our refrigerator basics post.

Washing Machine

If you have an older washer, it’s most likely a top-load (the water fills up from the bottom). The newer models are front load washers and will use 50% less water and uses 37% less energy.

Maintenance vs. Upgrade:

If your washer is either over 10 years old or is a top-load washer, you could see significant savings in both water and electricity by upgrading to a front load washer.

Tip: A good rule of thumb on whether to repair an appliance or buying a new one is if the repair cost is 50 percent or more than the cost of buying a new one, it’s worth the upgrade.

Last Tip: One appliance that hasn’t seen much improvement in energy savings is the dryer. Regular maintenance is best for a dryer. Obviously, some models are much more efficient than others, but if your dryer is working fine, it isn’t the first upgrade you should make for energy efficiency if you’re trying to save money.