before you buy or replace your comfort system consider this
If you are like most people,
replacing or upgrading your homes comfort system can be a confusing
proposition to say the least. With many options available today; theyre
quit a few things to take into consideration. Purchasing a new air
conditioning and heati
ng system is a major purchase and you want to make the
right choice. Four major components make up your cooling and heating system.
They are the outdoor unit, evaporator coil, furnace, and the air duct
system. Your comfort level, light bills, and system reliability will be
determined by the selection, installation, design of these components and
how they work together. If done right, you will a have a system that will
perform beyond your expectations and deliver real comfort at the lowest
possible utility cost. If done wrong, you could experience no reduction in
utility consumption, mold growth in ductwork and house, uneven temperatures
throughout home, lack of satisfactory comfort, and the list goes on and on…
seer
Energy efficiency of an air
conditioning equipment is measured by a standard called Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Ratio or SEER rating. This rating is used to compare the
electrical efficiency of air conditioning equipment, like MPG on your car.
Where 10 SEE
R equipment was the norm just a few years ago; today 13 SEER is
the new federally mandated minimum and with some equipment rated as high as
18 SEER. Systems that use variable speed indoor fans and two speed
compressor technology allow for SEER ratings above 14 and as high as 18 in
some cases. These systems actually allow for low speed cooling on milder
days and hi speed cooling for the hottest days. Conventional single speed
air conditioning systems with a multi speed indoor fans are still the most
common systems in use today and typically have ratings between 13 & 14 SEER.
These ratings are obtained by measuring equipment performance in a lab
setting without an air duct system. They do not simulate the actual
conditions that you’re equipment will be operating under after installation
in your home. Actual system performance varies, based on the quality of the
air duct system the equipment is connected to and the quality of the
installation procedures used by the installing contractor. A new A/C system
will save you some money in utility bills but equipment SEER ratings are
simply one of the factors for consideration. All systems must be tested with
approved testing methods and instruments after installation to insure that
potential energy savings of the new equipment is attained.
*Minimum efficiency
established by the Department of Energy. Potential energy savings may vary
depending on your lifestyle, system settings, equipment maintenance, local
climate, home construction and installation of equipment and duct system.
humidity
Humidity levels above 55%
will allow for the growth of mold, bacteria, and mildew. Humidity removal is
accomplished as a by product of a properly designed and installed air
conditioning system. Your comfort level is determined by a combination of
not only temperature, but humidity as well. When your cooling system is
operating, it is not only cooling air, but it is also removing moisture.
Moisture removal can be optimized with the proper selection of the air
conditioning equipment and components. The selection of the correct size or
"tonnage" of the air conditioning equipment is critical in maintaining the
lowest moisture levels in your home. The use of expansion
valves on evaporator coils, as opposed to flow raters or orifices are
required for maximum moisture removal. Over sizing of the evaporator is done
in some climates to achieve a higher efficiency or SEER rating. An example
would be a 4 ton outdoor unit with a 5 ton evaporator. The savings in
efficiency are minimal, but the sacrifice in comfort and cleanliness are
dramatic. We base equipment selections first on your home, your comfort
needs, and the high humidity levels of a Houston summer rather than SEER
ratings only. The humidity is too high in the Houston area for over sizing
evaporators in order to increase SEER ratings. Evaporators cannot be
oversized.
ducts or ductwork
The air duct system is the
delivery component of your system and plays a vital role in the overall
quality of your heating and cooling system. Comprehensive testing has been
preformed on hundreds of homes by researchers and utilities to measure the
actual or real ope
rating SEER of systems after installation. This testing
has shown that systems installed with poorly designed duct systems are
operating with efficiency losses between 15% and as high as 50% in some
cases. Properly sized, designed, & installed duct systems are the key
to system performance, efficiency, and comfort. Installing a 18 SEER air
conditioning unit to a leaking, deteriorated,or inadequate duct
system will result in a system that may well only perform as a properly
installed 10 SEER system. Equipment installed in this manner will have
excessive light bills, poor indoor air quality, unreliable operation, and
shorten the life span of the system. In short, you dont get the comfort or
energy efficiency that is claimed by equipment manufactures.
air filtering
Filtering or "cleaning" the
air can be done by a variety of products with differing levels advantages
and disadvantages. Standard cardboard frame filters are designed to protect
the equipment, but are not made for removing indoor pollutants that affect
your health. Dispo
sable pleated filters do a much better job than standard
filters and will fit in your existing filter grilles. Media filters
installed in your duct system are the next level of filtering and these
filters actually collect pollen, micro-organisms, smoke or other similar
pollutants. Media filters are reasonable in cost and we recommend this type
filter as minimum for a cleaner healthier home. Even cleaner indoor air can
be obtained with the use of more sophisticated air cleaners and are
recommended for people with allergies, asthma, and respiratory health
concerns.
refrigerants
As of January 2010 the
refrigerant R22 (what most people call freon) will be prohibited for use in
new air conditioning equipment. R22 has been used as the "standard"
refrigerant for many years but has been limited by the “Clean Air Act of
1990” and is scheduled for complete ban by 2020. Refrigerant 410A is
environmentally sound replacement and won’t deplete the ozone layer. As R22
production reduces, its cost is predicted to increase. Investing in system
with 410A refrigerant is an environ-mentally sound choice and will insure
availability of refrigerant for your system into the future.
All of the areas we have
discussed must be taken into account to build a true comfort system. The
professional installation, application and the design of the system will
play huge role in determining your long term satisfaction. The common
mistake people make is to base a purchase on the brand, tonnage, and SEER
with a complete disregard for the other factors. A real comfort system will
provide true energy efficiency and comfort, but this is only possible when
done correctly by people that have the experience and technical expertise to
get the job done right. You can trust Morrow Mechanical for
a professional system design, proven performance, and an installation that
is done right the first time.