13 SEER Minimum

R22 Phase out.

Home Comfort

This information is Very Important to your Decision on what to do when replacing your air Conditioning unit.

April 02, 2004 the final ruling on Minimum Efficiency rating of Central Residential Air Conditioning was made. 13 SEER up from 10 SEER

When President Clinton was preparing to leave office he made several Presidential orders.

One was on Energy / Minimum SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) He ordered that a 30% decrease in energy consumption on Residential Central Air Conditioning units by January 26 ,2006. 

Our old minimum SEER was  at 10.00. So the new MINIMUM SEER will be 13.00.

After 1/1/2006 10 and 12 SEER units are  obsolete. Once the manufacturers warranty is over the parts will become obsolete as well. Air Conditioning units made by top notch manufacturers, installed and sized properly on a home will typically  last 18 - 20+ years in our climate.  If the part warranties expire in 5 years what are you going to do when your 5+ year old unit needs a repair.

Another issue effecting your buying decision is the changes ordered by the federal government concerning the environment. The Air conditioning industry is replacing the R22 refrigerant with R410a (Carrier calls this refrigerant PURON). This is a problem you need to address also.

 When you couple the min seer, mandatory in 01/26/06 and the elimination of R22 refrigerant It becomes apparent that R22, type Air Conditioning units could cause you to replace your units sooner then normal.

The higher SEER systems have more and better features then do the lower seer systems

Things like Variable Speed Indoor Air Blowers to circulate the air in your home better (even temperatures through out your home). Costing only as much as a 100 watt light bulb to operate ($35.00 a year). A ceiling fan cost $.80 - $1.00 a day to operate and it only does the room it is in not the whole house.

Ideal Humidity is also available with the higher seer systems

The New Refrigerants Puron (R410a) 

The 

  by Carrier offers the New Puron (R410A) Refrigerant and the variable speed indoor blower to cool off even the furthest (warmest) room from the Air Conditioner.

Better Humidity control then before.

Only Carrier offers the 13 SEER unit in the new R410a (PURON)