In part two of our three-part series on the Environmental Protection Agency’s R-410A phase-out via the AIM Act, we discussed that an HVAC unit that uses R-410A refrigerant cannot be retrofitted, since there is no known substitution available for this specific type of refrigerant.
While R-410A will be phased out over time (15 years to be exact), you can expect to see rising costs of R-410A refrigerant. If your unit is 10+ years old, we strongly recommend considering a replacement unit; learn more about the different factors in choosing the right AC Unit replacement below.
Energy-Rating
SEER is an acronym for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The higher the SEER number, the more efficient an AC system is, with the most efficient systems possessing SEER ratings as high as 25. As a homeowner, SEER is important consideration in AC replacement since you can save greatly on electricity by purchasing a new, higher SEER-rated AC system. For example, a 20-year-old air conditioning system may be using up to 6 kWh of electricity to cool an average-sized house – but – using the latest AC technologies, the same house could be cooled using as little as 1.71 kWh of electricity by installing a newer AC system with a better SEER rating.
Unit-Size
No matter how energy efficient, or what the SEER rating – if you are using a unit that is too big, or too small, your HVAC unit will not operate efficiently. If the unit is too small, you will find that it struggles to cool your home. Your risk considerable wear and tear on your unit and overheating; your AC unit will overwork itself to cool. Conversely, if your unit is too large you will find that while it may cool your home, it will not be able to dehumidify. Your home will feel cool, yet clammy and humid.
Other Considerations
- Warranty – you will want an HVAC unit that comes with at least a 10-year warranty on parts and the compressor.
- Noise Levels – Depending on where your AC unit is located within your home, sound performance/noise-levels may be important to you.
Cost
Your friends at Schneider Heating & Air Conditioning understand that no homeowner looks forward to the expense of replacing an AC unit. That’s why we don’t want the cost to create a barrier for our clients; we offer many different financing options and are always available to answer your questions and address your concerns.
Schneider Heating & Air Conditioning is the leader in heating, cooling, ventilation, and air quality products and services in the La Crosse area. We have been serving the Coulee Region for more than 80 years. Our technicians are highly and continually trained utilizing the most sophisticated HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) technologies and equipment. All of our service technicians are NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certified—the largest non-profit certification organization that is governed, owned, operated, developed, and supported by the HVAC industry. At Schneider Heating & Air Conditioning, we pride ourselves on amazing customer service. Contact us today and ask for Aeroseal duct sealing.