09/Feb/2009
Change is in the Air SEER Rating of 13 Means Better Indoor Air Quality
By Mike Baker
Mico Mechanical Air Conditioning and Heating
Change is in the air for American homeowners seeking to replace their heating and cooling systems. The U.S. Department of Energy recently ruled that all residential air conditioners and heat pumps must be manufactured with a minimum efficiency standard of 13 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating).
What exactly is SEER? SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and describes how well air-conditioning equipment works. A higher SEER means better efficiency and lower energy bills. Each SEER rating is calculated by taking the amount of cooling supplied from the air conditioner or heat pump and dividing it by the power used by the cooling equipment.
For the past 10 years, approximately 95 percent of central cooling products met the old minimum standard of 10 SEER. Now that consumers must replace their products with 13 SEER products, they should be aware of how they can get the most out of their investments:
A typical air conditioner or heat pump system is a “split system,” comprised of an indoor section and an outdoor section. While most people are familiar with the air conditioner or heat pump outside their home, few understand the indoor section and its impact on system efficiency. For example, the older efficiency standards allowed replacing the outdoor unit without replacing the indoor section, but installing a new 13 SEER product with an old 10 SEER indoor coil will not work. For this reason, consumers should be cautious of anyone who is trying to sell them an air conditioner or heat pump without a new indoor section. Most manufacturers void their air conditioner and heat pump warranties if the indoor section is not replaced along with the outdoor equipment.
While some people use portable products to address individual room issues, portables are limited to how much of an area can be treated. Modern whole-home comfort systems take advantage of the newest heating and cooling technology by purifying the air which is circulating through the entire home.
For more information, contact Mike Baker at micomechanical@bellsouth.net or (225) 756-0777.
By Mike Baker
Mico Mechanical Air Conditioning and Heating
Change is in the air for American homeowners seeking to replace their heating and cooling systems. The U.S. Department of Energy recently ruled that all residential air conditioners and heat pumps must be manufactured with a minimum efficiency standard of 13 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating).
What exactly is SEER? SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and describes how well air-conditioning equipment works. A higher SEER means better efficiency and lower energy bills. Each SEER rating is calculated by taking the amount of cooling supplied from the air conditioner or heat pump and dividing it by the power used by the cooling equipment.
For the past 10 years, approximately 95 percent of central cooling products met the old minimum standard of 10 SEER. Now that consumers must replace their products with 13 SEER products, they should be aware of how they can get the most out of their investments:
A typical air conditioner or heat pump system is a “split system,” comprised of an indoor section and an outdoor section. While most people are familiar with the air conditioner or heat pump outside their home, few understand the indoor section and its impact on system efficiency. For example, the older efficiency standards allowed replacing the outdoor unit without replacing the indoor section, but installing a new 13 SEER product with an old 10 SEER indoor coil will not work. For this reason, consumers should be cautious of anyone who is trying to sell them an air conditioner or heat pump without a new indoor section. Most manufacturers void their air conditioner and heat pump warranties if the indoor section is not replaced along with the outdoor equipment.
While some people use portable products to address individual room issues, portables are limited to how much of an area can be treated. Modern whole-home comfort systems take advantage of the newest heating and cooling technology by purifying the air which is circulating through the entire home.
For more information, contact Mike Baker at micomechanical@bellsouth.net or (225) 756-0777.
