Do you know your Freon from Puron- You’d better if you have central air, are looking at new air conditioning units or repairing the one you have. The Energy Department is promoting advisories highlighting new regulations that will be outlawing Freon and how it will affect you even before the phase out. < See background on Freon issue>
As the summer rolls in, many homeowners are faced with issues surrounding air conditioners. If your unit is on the blink and in need of replacement or repairs you should be keenly aware of the new government standards that are going into place that will effect your options and pocketbook.
As of January 2010, the refrigerant R 22 ( what consumers call freon ) will not be allowed to be used in new equipment. R 22 has been used as the “standard” refrigerant for many years but has been found to be harmful to our planet.
Last January new national efficiency standards took effect that will eliminate the most inefficient types of units. These older A/C units not only cost more to service but can increase your usage of electricity by more than 50%. They also use Freon as the coolant.
At first glance most homeowners who need a new central unit will opt for the cheaper products currently on the market. < How To Select a HVAC Contractor > But the caution here is that you should pay more now to get the newer, more efficient model, rather than pay later as parts will become more expensive. The coolant in the cheaper models, now Freon, will be phased out. The average new central air units cost about $2500. For an additional $1100 consumers are being encouraged to opt for the new units that use Puron, a less damaging coolant compared to Freon.
When buying an air conditioner, it’s generally recommended to select the highest SEER system you can afford. You may want to ask your contractor to calculate the payback period in which the new system will “pay for itself” in terms of lower utility bills. Sometimes the savings are enough to partially or fully offset the cost of the new system within a few years. This is an individual calculation provided by the contractor that factors in your home’s size and the typical energy costs for your geographic area.
Do Not Fear The SEER. The efficiency of air conditioners is measured by the SEER Rating—the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. What the SEER measures is how much electricity is used to remove a unit of heat. The current rule for central air units is a SEER rating of 10, but the new standard will be 13. This means that the newer units can do 30% more work with the same electricity. Units with a SEER rating of 19 can be found in the marketplace and those under 13 are being phased out.
Other Appliances Too! New standards for window units, water heaters, dishwashers, washers and dryers also are being phased in.
The effect on the power grid during high demand is obvious and should be a welcome sign to environmentalists who fear the need for new power plants…
Some dealers are hesitant to “push” the new units because the price increase justified by the newer technology makes the unit seem more expensive.
When deciding on the new units, you will want to analyze the warranty coverage as most units have coverage for coils and compressors. But in the end you should also be able to analyze the electricity savings. If your budget however dictates an older model be aware that parts will become very expensive and the costs related to getting rid of old Freon are also escalating.
