Central Air Conditioner - How to get an energy efficient model

If your existing unit is very old, the new unit will use a different refrigerant (that is better for the environment). I have been told that this will mean changing the air handler as well. That may be a nightmare, depending on where the air handler is located. This may push you toward repairing rather than replacing. This happened to us with a 20 year old compressor. We opted to repair the compressor that uses the old refrigerant (which is expensive and increasingly unavailable). Has anyone else been told the same thing?

housepoor

in Heating and Air Conditioning 10 years and 3 months ago

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mouster728 | 10 years and 3 months ago

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I need to replace my central air conditioner compressor as it is fritzed. The unit itself is old and damaged so I’m looking at buying a complete new unit. I’d like to replace it with one that is as energy efficient as I can afford (at least 16 SEER). I’ve had a couple of quotes from local companies but none seem to know or care very much about energy efficiency – they just offer whatever make and model their company carries. Would it be a mistake to buy the unit myself and then find someone to install it? What would be the disadvantages of doing so? Thanks.

no-permits | 10 years and 3 months ago

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i think the main disadvantages to you buying it yourself would be that you won’t properly size the unit and that whoever you hire to install won’t be familiar with the model. it might be difficult to find someone who wants to install your equipment, and even then, they certainly won’t take responsibility for it. bad idea.

nancyk | 10 years and 3 months ago

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Check out the ConEd Residential HVAC program. There is an 800 number for a Green Team that might be able to assist you. Rebates are available and ConEd provides list of approved contractors. http://www.coned.com/energyefficiency/residential_HVAC_program.asp

cmu | 10 years and 3 months ago

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Well, sizing the unit is a no-brainer assuming the old unit has a readable specification plate. But I don’t see the issue. If you decide on, say, a Trane 22SEER unit, won’t Trane have a list of installers in this area?

mouster728 | 10 years and 3 months ago

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OP here. Thanks for all the replies. Very helpful. nancyK: I’m checking out the Con Ed offer (though I fear that as an apartment owner rather than a house owner I may not be eligible). CMU: I feel a bit stupid now. I had been talking to local HVAC companies without considering which brands of ACs they carry. I will now tackle this the other way around, as you suggest, by deciding on the make of unit I want to install first, then contacting a local installer of that make.

cmu | 10 years and 3 months ago

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There are no stupid questions…good luck

steam_man | 10 years and 3 months ago

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Air conditioning units and also hydronic heating systems are properly sized by completing a ACCA Manual J heat load calculation, not by looking at the old unit. Steam heating systems are properly sized by calculating the connected load, not by looking at the old boiler. Find an installer that is willing to do a Manual J calc and you will know you are working with someone who cares about energy efficiency. Lastly, the size of your ductwork will have a part to play here. You cannot undersize the unit too much or you won’t get proper airflow in your home. It will be a nightmare.

no-permits | 10 years and 3 months ago

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@cmu, there might not be stupid questions, but there are stupid answers. you could have the most efficient unit, but if it’s not sized right, you’re wasting money. you won’t know if it’s sized right until you do the calculations.