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Choosing
a New Unit
What
should I look for in a new heat pump or air conditioner?
While
heat pumps and air conditioners require the use of some different
components in your heating and cooling system, the three most
important factors you should evaluate are essentially the same:
quality, efficiency, and comfort features.
Quality
When
you purchase a new car, the quality of it helps determine how
well it will perform and for how long. An air conditioner or heat
pump is really no different. Purchasing a brand name that has
a reputation for quality and reliability can save you headaches
and extra expense down the road.
Ask
your licensed AC contractor about quality tests and warranties.
Many new units come with multiple-year warranties. and they differ
from one manufacturer to the next. Your contractor will give you
a better idea which unit will best serve your needs
Efficiency
Air
conditioners and heat pumps manufactured today have SEER ratings
that range from 13.0 to about 22. Heat pumps are available with
HSPF ratings from about 6.8 to 10.0.
Usually,
the higher the efficiency, the more expensive the unit. If you
live in a warm and/or humid climate, you will probably see the
higher cost of a high-efficiency air conditioner or heat pump
paid back (through lower utility bills) in a few short years.
Your
contractor can use cooling data from your area to help you determine
about how long it would take you to recover the additional cost
in energy savings. Of course, after the payback, you continue
to save on your energy bills for the life of the system.
One
other point to keep in mind is that your heat pump or air conditioner
is a "split system," which means that there is an outdoor
unit (condenser) and an indoor unit (coil). If you're replacing
an existing system, both units should be replaced to make sure
your new condensing unit gives you optimal performance, efficiency
and comfort.
For
more information about matching your indoor and outdoor components,
go to Why do I need to "match" my condensing unit and
indoor coil? Note: Air-source heat pumps - the type most commonly
used in homes - are typically installed with additional back-up
heating (usually electric resistance strip heating) for days when
the outdoor temperature drops below 30 and the heat pump cannot
extract enough heat from the outside air to heat the home. SEER
and HSPF ratings do not refer to the efficiency of electrical
resistance backup heat, which is calculated differently.
Comfort
Features
Some
air conditioners and heat pumps offer additional features that
provide greater comfort (as well as additional energy savings).
Two-speed units can run on low speed (using 50% of the energy)
up to 80% of the time, so they operate more quietly and run for
longer periods of time than single-speed models.
Longer
operating periods translate into fewer on/off cycles, fewer drafts
and much smaller temperature swings -- only two or three degrees
instead of the four-degree swings common with single-speed units.
Plus, better air circulation helps prevent air "stratification"
- warm air rising to the ceiling and cold air settling on the
floor. In short, you get consistent, even cooling throughout your
home.
If
you purchase a multi-speed or variable-capacity furnace or fan
coil with your unit, you will enhance both the comfort and the
efficiency of your air conditioning or heat pump system even further.
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