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What does SEER stand for? |
| A. |
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is used to indicate the efficiency of air conditioning systems. The higher the SEER , the more cooling you get per unit of energy. As of today, only units with a SEER of 13 or higher can be sold in the United States. Today’s cooling units are up to 40% more efficient than those made as recently as 10 years ago. |
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| Q: |
Is it OK to “mix and match” air conditioning components of different efficiencies? Just because my compressor is on its way out, does it mean I have to replace my indoor unit as well? |
| A. |
We strongly recommend that you replace both the indoor and outdoor unit. If you have a 6-SEER or 8-SEER cooling system, it is not economically practical to replace only the outdoor condensing unit. Your low-SEER indoor unit won’t be compatible with the higher efficiency of the outdoor condenser models now being installed.
If you don’t replace both indoor and outdoor units, your cooling system could be as much as 15% less efficient than promised—and you won’t get the payback on your investment that you had expected.
What’s more, when the indoor and outdoor components can’t function as a “team,” you sacrifice comfort. Your system may still work, but it won’t perform as well as well as it should. Even worse, a mismatch between a new outdoor unit and an old indoor unit often creates stress on a cooling system. The result can be premature equipment failure.
At Clyde S. Walton, we have the expertise to help you choose a central air system with the right efficiency level, i.e., the right SEER, for your home. For a no-obligation evaluation, click here |
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| Q: |
My home has a forced-air furnace but no air conditioning. Can I add central air? |
| A. |
You bet! We can mount a cooling coil on top of the furnace and install a condensing unit outside. For a no-obligation evaluation, click here |
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| Q: |
My home is heated with a boiler so there is no ductwork. Is there an affordable way I can get central air conditioning? |
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Absolutely! Just because your older home doesn’t have ductwork doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the cool comfort of central air conditioning. We’ve been helping many customers keep their cool by installing systems that use flexible “mini-ducts” to deliver cool air.
These mini-ducts, or tubing, are small enough to be fed through existing walls, ceilings, floors and wall cavities where conventional ductwork would never fit. The outlets that deliver the cooled air are barely noticeable and blend in with the décor. The indoor air handler that connects to the ducts can be installed in an attic or crawl space.
Installing this type of air conditioning costs a little more than a standard central air system but much less than the cost of installing ductwork and a central air conditioner. |
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| Q: |
I heard that central air conditioning systems that use Freon are outdated? Why is that? |
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Cooling systems that use environmentally friendly refrigerants (R-410A) are gradually replacing old systems that use Freon (R-22). To protect the ozone layer, no air conditioners with Freon will be manufactured after 2010. Years of commercial use and testing have proven that R-410A refrigerants are superior in performance and energy efficiency to Freon. Because Freon is being phased out, repairing air conditioners with this old refrigerant is becoming more expensive. Contact us if you want to know more about your options in new central air systems. |
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| Q: |
Why does it cost so much to run an air conditioning system? |
| A. |
Air conditioners run on electricity, and electricity is the most expensive energy source. Converting fuels like coal or natural gas into electricity is inherently inefficient. What’s more, much of the original electricity generated at the power plant is lost during transmission over power lines. So, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, by the time it reaches your home, electricity is only 33% efficient on average. |
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| Q: |
Do I really need a tune-up for my air conditioning system? |
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An air conditioning tune-up and inspection will help catch problems before they get you hot under the collar. Many breakdowns occur on the hottest day of the year — because that’s when your a/c is under the most stress. And because a tune-up ensures that your system will run at peak efficiency, you’ll lower your electric bills. A system that’s running efficiently can save you as much as 30% on your cooling costs. So give us a call to schedule your annual tune-up! |
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