A/C Changes and Advice

[Dorot29701]

There was a story on TV news last week. The reporter said there were going to be changes to the SEER numbers of new air conditoners being sold and that if you had an a/c and an air handler, and one of them broke, you would have to replace both because the new ones being sold would not work with the old ones. Hope that's clear....

She went on to say that if you wanted to buy a unit to work with the one you already have, you should hurry.

So .... is that correct? And if so, what advice would someone in the business give ... I bought the outside unit in 1992. It is a Goodman and is still working fine. I bought the air handler in 2001...a Carrier, and it is fine. Would it be smart to try and buy an outside Carrier to match the air handler now (if I can still find one) or just wait until one of the two units stops working and replace both? The new units are supposed to cost a lot more than the old ones. Thanks.

[Joseph Meehan]

Relax. As usual the TV news often only gets half a story.

Don't make your decision due to the news. I would do nothing until I need or wanted to.

You can get some numbers now if you like, but I suggest waiting. There are tax incentives coming out and when all is said and done, it is likely better economics to go with a matched newer unit when needed than trying to get a few additional years out of what you now have. I would want the increased efficiency and reduced operating cost rather than saving a little on the hardware.

[Al Moran]

You mixed a goodman with a carrier. bwwwwaaahhhhaaaaaaaaa. Just replace the thermostat and tell the government to go to hell.

[Frank Boettcher]

The old minimum rating was 10 SEER. The new minimum rating is 13 SEER, however, manufacturers can finish out work in progress and sell existing units that are below 13 SEER. They just can't start any new production in 2006 that is not up to the 13 SEER minimum.

If I were you, I would do nothing. By the time your outside codensing unit goes, you will probably want to replace both anyway, go to a very high SEER unit, collect the tax credit that is available, and have a good payback on your investment because of the dramatically lower energy usage and cost.

The new units do cost more, but the payback is there in energy savings combined with the tax credit.