Energy Efficient Air Conditioners

Energy Efficient HVAC in Mesa & Phoenix, AZ

Energy Efficient HVAC Systems

Cooling is the biggest line on a Valley power bill, and a tired AC makes it bigger every July. PlumbSmart installs high efficiency systems sized right for Arizona heat, with honest numbers up front and financing from $99 a month.

Why Energy Efficiency Pays Off in Arizona

Few places in the country work an air conditioner like the Valley does. From May through September your system runs most of the day against 110 and 115 degree heat, and every point of efficiency it lacks shows up on the power bill. Cooling is usually the single biggest piece of a summer bill here, so the system you pick matters more in Mesa than it does almost anywhere else.

That math is why an energy efficient HVAC system deserves a serious look. A modern SEER2 rated unit with a variable speed compressor uses far less electricity than an aging system, holds the house at a steadier temperature, and handles monsoon humidity better. PlumbSmart helps homeowners across Mesa, Phoenix, and the East Valley pick the right tier, then installs it right, because rated efficiency only shows up when the install is done well.

What Actually Makes an HVAC System Energy Efficient

Stickers and slogans aside, efficiency comes down to a handful of real components and choices. Here is what moves the needle in an Arizona home.

High SEER2 Ratings - SEER2 is the federal efficiency score for cooling equipment. The higher the number, the less electricity the system uses to do the same job.
Variable Speed Compressors - Instead of all or nothing, the compressor ramps up and down to match the heat. Long, low cycles use less power and keep rooms steadier.
Two Stage Cooling - A smart middle tier: full power for 115 degree afternoons, a quieter low stage for everything else. Costs less than variable speed.
ECM Blower Motors - Variable speed blower motors move the same air on a fraction of the electricity older motors burn, and they are gentler on ductwork.
Heat Pumps - One system that cools all summer and heats efficiently all winter. In Arizona’s mild winters a heat pump beats electric strip heat by a mile.
Smart Thermostats - Scheduling, remote control, and smarter runtimes that pay off on APS and SRP time of use plans. Thermostat upgrades are an easy first step.
Ductless Mini Splits - Zoned cooling for additions, garages, and casitas, so you stop paying to cool rooms nobody is in. See our mini split systems.
Sealed, Insulated Ducts - Leaky attic ducts waste air you already paid to cool. Our duct sealing and repair service protects every SEER2 point you bought.
R-454B Refrigerant - New systems run on R-454B, the refrigerant replacing R-410A under the federal phase-out, so your equipment stays current for its whole life.

How a PlumbSmart Efficiency Upgrade Works

Four steps, honest numbers at every one of them.

Home Assessment: We look at the whole house: system age, duct condition, insulation, and how you actually use your cooling.
Real Options: Good, better, and best quotes with flat pricing. No pressure toward more system than your house needs.
One Day Install: Most installs finish in a single day, sized right, charged to spec, and tested before we leave.
First Year Free: Every new system includes a year of maintenance free, so it keeps the efficiency you paid for.

How Much Can You Actually Save?

We will not promise a magic percentage, because the honest answer depends on what you are replacing. A 15 year old unit limping along well below its original rating is the best candidate. Replace it with a 16 or 17 SEER2 variable speed system and the difference shows up on the very first summer bill.

The savings come from more than the box, though. Leaky attic ducts can waste a big share of the air you have already paid to cool, and Arizona attics are brutal on ductwork. Tightening the whole system together, equipment, ducts, and thermostat, is where the real money is.

Efficiency Is Earned Every Summer

A high SEER2 rating is a starting point, and monsoon dust starts chipping away at it from day one. A coil caked in dust makes the system work harder for the same cooling. That is why every new PlumbSmart system includes its first year of maintenance free, and why an annual AC tune-up after that is the cheapest efficiency upgrade there is. For everything else cooling related, start at our air conditioning services page.

The Team Behind the Numbers

An efficiency promise is only as good as the company making it. PlumbSmart has served Mesa, Phoenix, and the East Valley for over a decade, and the reputation shows: more than 3,200 Google reviews at 4.9, an A+ rating with the BBB since 2012, and zero complaints with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.

NATE-certified HVAC technicians, plus Journeyman and Master Plumbers on staff.
Over 25 years of combined experience across the team.
Trane Comfort Specialist, the manufacturer’s mark for HVAC expertise.
Voted Best of Mesa eight years running, and East Valley Tribune Best of Mesa 2026.
Featured on ABC15’s Sonoran Living with owner Wayne Decker.

Energy Efficiency Questions, Answered

How Much Does an Energy Efficient AC System Cost in Mesa?

It depends on the size of your home and the efficiency tier you choose. An entry level SEER2 system costs less up front, while variable speed equipment costs more and gives back more every month you own it. Every quote is flat and upfront, we meet or beat any written bid, and financing starts at $99 a month with the first year of maintenance free. Call (480) 992-2225 and we’ll put real numbers to your house, not a range off the internet.

What Is SEER2 and What Rating Should I Buy in Arizona?

SEER2 is the federal efficiency score for new cooling equipment. It replaced the old SEER rating in 2023 with a tougher, more realistic test. New systems sold in the Southwest must hit at least 14.3 SEER2 in most residential sizes. In a climate where the AC runs most of the day for months, stepping up to 16 or 17 SEER2 often pays for itself, and we’ll show you the math for your home before you decide anything.

Is a Variable Speed System Worth It in Phoenix Heat?

For most homeowners who plan to stay in their house a while, yes. A variable speed compressor ramps between low and full power instead of slamming on and off, which means longer, gentler cycles, steadier room temperatures, better humidity control during monsoon season, and less wear on parts. It does cost more up front than single stage equipment, and we’ll tell you straight whether your house justifies it.

How Much Will a New System Lower My Power Bill?

Honest answer: it depends on what you’re replacing and how your home holds the cold. Swapping a 15 year old builder grade unit for a high SEER2 variable speed system usually makes a real dent in summer bills, especially once the ducts are sealed and the thermostat is set up well. We look at the whole picture during the assessment, so the estimate you get fits your house, not a brochure average.

Do APS or SRP Offer Rebates on High Efficiency Systems?

Both utilities have run rebate programs for qualifying high efficiency equipment and smart thermostats. Programs change from year to year, so when we quote your system we’ll point you to what’s current and help you claim whatever applies. Between rebates, $99 a month financing, and a free first year of maintenance, the jump to an efficient system is smaller than most people expect.

What Is the Switch From R-410A to R-454B Refrigerant?

Federal rules are phasing out R-410A, the refrigerant most existing systems use, in favor of R-454B. New systems we install run on the new refrigerant, so your equipment stays current for its whole service life. It matters for repair decisions too: as R-410A supply tightens and its price climbs, a leaky older system gets more expensive to keep alive, and that shifts the repair or replace math.

Do You Offer Financing on New Systems?

Yes. New energy efficient systems start at $99 a month, and 0% APR plans are available on qualifying installs. You shouldn’t have to drain your savings to stop overpaying the power company. Approval is quick, and we’ll walk you through the options when we quote your system.

What Warranty Comes With a New System?

Two layers. The manufacturer covers the equipment under its factory warranty, and we register it for you so you get the full term. On top of that, PlumbSmart backs the installation itself with our lifetime warranty on workmanship. If something we did isn’t right, we come back and make it right.

How Long Does an Installation Take?

Most installs finish in a single day. We remove the old equipment, set the new system, charge the refrigerant to spec, test airflow, and walk you through the thermostat before we leave. Rooftop package unit swaps, common across the Valley, usually fit in a day as well.

Which Brands Do You Install?

We’re a Trane Comfort Specialist, so Trane and its RunTru value line lead our lineup, and we install Bosch systems as well. Whatever you choose, it gets sized to your house, set up to its rated efficiency, and backed by our lifetime warranty on the work. We service every major brand no matter who installed it.

Will a Smart Thermostat Actually Save Me Money?

Paired with the right system, yes. A smart thermostat trims runtime when nobody’s home and can pre-cool before peak windows, which matters on APS and SRP time of use plans. On a variable speed system it lets the equipment run the long, low cycles it was designed for. We install and set them up as part of an upgrade or on their own.

Can Bad Ductwork Cancel Out a High Efficiency System?

It can take a real bite. Ducts in Arizona attics live in brutal heat, and when they leak you pay to cool air that never reaches the rooms. ENERGY STAR estimates a typical leaky duct system loses 20 to 30 percent of the air moving through it. That’s why we check ducts during every assessment, and our duct sealing and repair team can fix what we find.

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