R-22 Dry Charge Systems After 2015

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We received a question about the potential decline of the R22 Dry Charge units after the 2015 efficiency regulations go into effect and thought others might want to read about this topic.

The new efficiency standards going into effect on 1/1/15 do not really address any questions about refrigerants directly.  However, we believe the new regulations will have some indirect effects on demand for R22 dry charge systems since almost all of the dry charge units today are 13 SEER and there will be restrictions on where 13 SEER can be used after the regulations change.  Based on what we have heard from the DOE, there is an 18 month grace period, ending on 6/30/16, to install products built prior to 1/1/15.  Any system built after 1/1/15 must meet the new efficiency standards for affected regions.  Under these new efficiency standards, all heat pumps must be 14 SEER or higher for all regions, irrespective of the refrigerant used, after the 18 month grace period.  All unitary split AC systems in the South and Southwest regions must also meet the 14 SEER or higher standard but they only have to be 13 SEER or higher in the North region, also irrespective of the refrigerant.  Thus, it would appear that after the grace period, R22, 13 SEER, dry charge unitary split AC systems will only be allowed in the North region. There is nothing pending to our knowledge that will restrict the ability to install those last remaining R-22, dry charge 13 SEER AC models into the North but we do know that all the other regions and all heat pumps for all regions must be 14 SEER.  After the grace period, any dry charge units for those regions and any heat pumps for any region must be 14 SEER, irrespective of refrigerant used.  The question remains as to whether there will be any interest in 14 SEER dry charge units which might meet the minimum SEER level for all heat pumps and for the AC systems in the South and Southwest regions or whether that is even possible.

We will continue to monitor this situation as it evolves so please check back from time to time and let us know what you are hearing from others about these regulations.

What homeowners should know about Regional Standards Enforcement

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The minimum allowable energy efficiency for residential air conditioners is changing on Jan. 1, 2015, as discussed in our last update on this topic.  See http://www.ac-heatingconnect.com/regional-efficiency-standards-update/

The Department of Energy (DOE) periodically increases energy efficiency standards as technology evolves and higher efficiency systems become more affordable.

This time, however, the change is different from previous changes. In the past, the whole country had one minimum efficiency level (for example, the current minimum is 13 SEER for AC), but beginning on Jan. 1, 2015, the new energy standard is regional, which means that depending on the region (North, Southeast or Southwest), the minimum allowable efficiency can be different for air conditioners. This creates complications for enforcement.

In the past, manufacturers were prohibited from making lower efficiency products after a certain date. But this time, the current 13 SEER split-system AC units can still be installed in the North, but they cannot be installed in the Southeast and Southwest. Hence, manufacturers cannot be completely prohibited from making 13 SEER units since they are allowed to build them for the North region. To find a way to enforce the standards, the DOE appointed a working group consisting of representatives from various stakeholders. This working group made their recommendation to the DOE on Oct. 30, 2014.  The following is a summary of the group’s recommendations.

  • All systems produced before the Jan. 2015 deadline will have the current SEER rating label (hang tag) and these systems can be sold in all regions (including the Southeast and Southwest regions) for an 18-month period, which ends on July 1, 2016.
  • All systems produced after the Jan. 1, 2015, deadline will have a “new” SEER rating label.  The current design for this label features a range for the SEER level that can be achieved with various options for indoor coil matches.
  • Starting March 1, 2015, manufacturers will add a new permanent label to the outdoor unit, identifying in which states the unit is prohibited.
  • The DOE will provide information regarding the regulations on their website and provide means to report violations.
  • If the DOE determines a contractor to be a repeat violator, they will be tagged as a “routine violator,” and their names will be published on a special list. Homeowners can check this list before hiring a contractor.
  • When investigating a violation, the DOE might also contact the homeowner.
  • Though it is not required, we recommend that homeowners save the hang tag and receipts/documentation from the contractor.

We will continue to post updates on this site as they become available.

What contractors should know about Regional Standards Enforcement

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As part of the final determination as to how the new air conditioning efficiency standards will be enforced, the Department of Energy-appointed “Regional Standards Enforcement Working Group” has made their recommendation on an enforcement plan for the new regional efficiency standards. The proposal should clear up some confusion about compliance, but will still need to be approved and will likely be approved by a committee to complete the formal rulemaking process.

The following is a simple summary of the enforcement policy outlined in the recommendation.

Compliant Product (14 SEER) in the Southeast & Southwest Regions is now defined as:

  • Least efficient rating combination for a specified model of condensing unit must be 14 SEER.
  • Least efficient rating combination for a specified model of condensing unit must meet minimum EER requirement in the Southwest region.
  • Any condensing unit model that has a certified combination that is below the regional standard cannot be installed in the region.
  • A condensing unit model certified below a regional standard by the OEM cannot be installed in a region subject to regional standard(s) even with an Independent Coil Manufacturer (ICM) indoor coil or air handler combination that may have a certified rating meeting the applicable regional standard.

All contractors are required to retain records of installations in the Southeast and Southwest regions as described below (includes both split system central air conditioners and single packaged air conditioners):

  • System manufacturer, model and serial number
  • indoor coil or air handler: manufacturer and model number
  • location of the installation (including street address, city, state, and zip code)
  • date of the installation; and
  • party from whom the unit was purchased, including company or individual’s name, full address and phone number.
  • All records should be retained for 48 months.

Contractors may violate the standard by doing the following:

  • Knowingly sell to and/or install for an end user a central air conditioner subject to regional standards with the knowledge that such product shall be installed in violation of any regional standard applicable to the product.

A product is installed in violation if:

  • Complete system installed is not certified as a complete system that meets the applicable standard.
  • Replacement outdoor unit is not certified as part of a combination that meets the applicable standard.
  • Outdoor unit installed has a certified combination less than standard applicable in region.

We welcome any additional questions you might have in the comments section below.

Increasing Comfort In Residential New Construction

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One of the items that is often overlooked during the planning and construction of a new home is the potential for an enhanced air conditioning (A/C) system.  In many cases, the new homeowner is not aware of the various system options available beyond the system that comes standard with the house.  Often home builders themselves are not educated on the potential value that an enhanced comfort A/C system can provide to a new homeowner.  Many new homes today are being built with minimum standard A/C systems or systems that meet the minimum efficiency required to obtain energy credits or rebates.   That does not mean that there is anything wrong with these systems, as a matter of fact because of the increases in efficiency standards over the last several years even a basic system being installed today could be called high efficiency by early 2000 standards.  But what has not changed and where value is being missed is in the area of increased comfort.

Some of the key contributors to reduced comfort are uneven cooling and/or heating (hot and cold spots), sound and especially poor humidity control.  All of these problems can be addressed in just about any home.  However, the best and least expensive time to put in a great comfort system is during the construction of a new home.  For example, during construction it is easier and less expensive to install proper ducting and potentially a zoned system (different sections or rooms of the home are heated and cooled independently) which is a great way to ensure the right temperature where you want it without conditioning areas that don’t need it.  In addition, a zoned system can save you money by reducing the load on the system.

Zoned homes work best with modulated capacity A/C systems.  Modulating systems allow the A/C unit to adjust to the cooling or heating load called for from the home.  Besides providing the appropriate cooling capacity, these systems allow for control of humidity levels and tighter temperature control.  The improvement of comfort from proper humidity control can be very dramatic and in some cases may even have health benefits.  In addition, modulated systems, especially with good duct work, are quieter overall both inside the house and at the outdoor unit.

In general there is an increased upfront cost for these types of systems.  However, there is also the added value in terms of added comfort and in most cases lower monthly energy bills.  In addition, there are rebates and incentives that vary by location and a very good tax credit that applies to geothermal heat pump systems.  The geothermal heat pump is simply a high efficiency unit that transfers the heat underground instead of to the outside air.  The tax credit on these units is 30% of the cost with no upper limit, including installation costs.  On construction of a new home this could include the duct work and any added zoning for a very substantial savings.  Of course every situation is different making it important to do some research on what is available in your area and consult with a tax advisor as appropriate.

The Four HVAC Terms You Need to Know Now

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We usually don’t spend too much time thinking about our AC systems.  We just want them – and expect them – to work.  And when the AC fails, we don’t think much about the replacement other than the fact that it needs to be replaced ASAP, and the fact that the cost involved wasn’t likely an expected expense. Five Good Reasons Why You Should Replace Your Old HVAC System in the Fall

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately three million HVAC units require repair or replacement each year, meaning homeowners will be faced with big ticket decisions that affect their indoor comfort and energy costs for the next 15 or so years.  But not all cold air is the same. Understanding the following four terms can help save money and increase your comfort level.

  1. SEER – Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is a measure of system efficiency, which translates to how much it costs to operate.  The higher the number, the more efficient the system.  A SEER rating of 16 or higher with stepped capacity modulation is considered high efficiency and could save you over $400 per year versus an older lower efficiency system.
  2. Variable Speed – modulated systems with variable speed compressors can continuously vary the amount of energy used as the demand for cooling goes up or down.  This helps keep temperatures stable throughout a cooling cycle.  These systems are much more energy efficient and also provide superior humidity control throughout the home, possibly saving you more than $800 per year over what you might be paying now to cool your home with an older model.
  3. Humidity – We hear the term all the time, but indoor humidity can cause many problems.  Too much humidity in the air causes you to feel warmer, meaning it costs you more to run your AC unit longer. By selecting a thermostat with a humidity control feature, this could save you up to $300 per year and will also increase comfort in the home if you live in a humid area of the country.
  4. Heat Pump – Heat pumpsystems have long been popular in warmer climates, butimprovements in technology and performance are making them increasingly viable options inmore northern climates.  A heat pump is an air conditioner that can also be used to warm a home in the winter.  A high-efficiency heat pump system – which moves heat into the home instead of generating heat — can be an incredibly efficient and cost-saving solution to replace conventional gas- or oil-burning furnaces, resulting in estimate annual savings of $700 versus what you might be paying today to heat with an older conventional furnace.
    How a Heat Pump Air Conditioner Works

Knowing these four terms can help save you hundreds on the cost of running your AC system. So, don’t wait! Start educating yourself now so that the next time you see your contractor, you know the right questions to ask. Don’t forget to check out some other helpful tips as you prepare your AC system for heating or cooling season: http://www.ac-heatingconnect.com/homeowners/

Related podcast:
Common HVAC Terms

Getting the Most Out of Your Heat Pump

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Many homeowners decide to install heat pumps because of their high efficiency and reliability.  It’s important to maintain your system in order to get the most out of your heat pump.

When you adjust the thermostat during the winter months, don’t make big jumps upward or downward in the temperature setting.  Sudden upward adjustments can activate the backup heater, which is inefficient.  Remember that heat pumps circulate air that will feel relatively cool coming out of the vent, but actually warm enough to heat the house.  Unlike a gas furnace, which blasts hot air for a few minutes and then turns off, heat pumps actually run longer, but more efficiently.

Further, setting the temperature back at night is not necessary for heat pumps with two-stage thermostats.  That is because turning the heat back up in the morning could activate the backup resistance heater, which would wipe out any energy savings from turning it down overnight.  If you want to turn the temperature down at night for comfortable sleeping, slowly raise the setting a few degrees at a time in the morning and check the thermostat light to make sure backup heating has not been activated.

Make sure that your thermostat is properly paired with your heat pump. Most “smart thermostats” are also designed to work with common heat pump configurations.  They also support several stages of heating and cooling and can run the heat pump and auxiliary heat simultaneously to maximize comfort and reduce overall energy costs. Some systems are equipped with an outdoor temperature sensor, which is used by the logic to determine when supplemental heating is needed, even if the room thermostat is suddenly turned up.

As a homeowner, remember to check the system air filters every month for dirt and dust, and clean or replace them as recommended.  These air filters are very important to the system operating correctly, especially in homes with pets.

Outdoor coils should also be cleaned with water regularly and checked to make sure that air flow around the unit is not obstructed by plants, mulch, garbage cans or snow.  If ice forms on the outside coil of a heat pump during the winter season, know that this is completely normal, and no action needs to be taken.  To melt the ice, the heat pump has a defrost cycle, which should turn on automatically and melts the ice in less than 10 minutes.  When this happens, steam might rise from the outdoor unit, which is also a normal part of the defrost cycle.

Overall, maintaining good air flow both inside and outside will extend the life of your unit. The heat pump should be serviced periodically, before the start of the heating season.  Follow these simple tips to make sure your heat pump is reliable during the heating season.

 

Comfort Gadgets and the State of Our Industry

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I was reading a recent post on one of my favorite social media channels a few weeks ago regarding new “gadget products” that were designed to keep consumers cool and comfortable during the summer months, and especially at night. Some of the more interesting ones included self-cooling pillows, self-cooling mattress pads, a temperature controlled mattress and a bed fan that cools the space above or under the covers.  Some of these products were selling for between $300 and $700. The question I asked myself was, “Why not just invest that money in a whole home HVAC comfort solution that works for every room in your house all day and night instead of in a single bed?”

In addition to getting much better comfort for the little extra money when a system is replaced, the homeowner would also probably get better humidity control, better indoor air quality and reduced noise. One of our recent posts deals with this.  I think these “comfort gadgets” are yet another example of how many consumers in the U.S. are underserved by our industry. Consumers want comfort and better indoor air quality, but they don’t realize they can get it from some of our latest HVAC technology. There is a huge market out there for contractors who take the time to satisfy the needs of comfort instead of just replacing existing equipment with similar stuff and moving on to the next job.

What are Cooling Degree Days?

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Sales of air conditioners in the US are largely dependent on weather.  I know that sounds obvious but what you may not know is that there is government tracked metric that shows how hot one summer was relative to past summers.   The US Air Conditioning industry uses this metric to determine how many sales were due to hot weather and how many might have been due to other factors.

The national Cooling Degree Days (CDD) metric is based on a population-weighted, national average of all regions compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  This metric tends to correlate well with how much air conditioning is being used as the season goes on.

For example, from 2010 to 2013, the CDD ranged from 250 to 274 degree cooling days above normal when the U.S. saw some  of its hottest summers since the mid-1980’s.  In comparison, 2009 was very cool, at only 33 cooling degree days.  In 1997, we were 119 cooling degree days below normal, and in 1992, we were down to an amazing 177 cooling degree days below normal.

Cool It! Choosing the Right HVAC System for Your New Home

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If you’re building a home and getting ready to make the important decision about your heating and cooling system, you might want to consider some new ways of thinking about your future HVAC needs.

Depending on the size or the layout of the house, you might want to consider two central systems – usually one for the upstairs and another one for the main floor.  This way, you can adjust the temperature up or down in those areas independently and reduce your overall energy consumption.

For the areas where people will be sleeping at night, I would also consider a central system with some sort of capacity modulation – either one with two steps of capacity or continuous capacity control along with a variable speed or stepped indoor air handler.  This will be especially important in warmer and more humid climates because of the comfort and health problems associated with humidity control are almost as important as the temperature control in those climates.

If you choose a capacity controlled system, usually 16 SEER or greater, the system will be able to adjust to the load on humid nights when you need the system to run at low capacity for an extended period of time.  This will ensure that the humidity is removed and the air remains fresh and filtered.  The same system can still run at the full load capacity during the day when the demand for cooling is most critical, or vice versa depending on the climate you live in.  The other benefit of these systems is that they run very quietly at the low capacity mode.

You might also want to consider also adding a remote ductless mini-split system If you have rooms in your new home that are in remote areas and are located far away from the central AC system – e.g. an attic space or “bonus” room. These rooms are frequently zoned off from the rest of the house or used only occasionally. A ductless mini-split is a type of air conditioning system that does not use ducts to transfer cool air, and instead the outdoor condenser unit is connected directly to an interior air handler. Because of this direct connection, generally only one room or space can be cooled at a time making ductless mini-splits a viable option for room additions or add-ons.

Investing in a new, custom built home involves a lot of decisions and unfortunately the HVAC decisions are sometimes overlooked.  It’s always best to consider the comfort and energy cost factors as well as the many other decisions you will be making.  You might also want to consider talking directly with an HVAC contractor instead of relying entirely on the general contractor to know the latest about HVAC technology and options.  Good luck with your new home!

Before purchasing, check out these money saving tips!

Thanksgiving in July – Why I am Thankful for AC in the United States

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In the United States, November is the traditional time of  giving thanks for all the good things in our lives.  For most of the country though, by the time the Thanksgiving holiday rolls around, we are usually only thankful for “winter things,” like “shelter from the cold” and warm “comfort food.”  By then, we have usually forgotten about how muggy and hot it was in July and August and how really good we felt coming inside to a comfortable, air conditioned place on a hot day.  So, the following is a little summary of why I am thankful for our  air conditioning style in the U.S.

  1. In the U.S., air conditioning just works. Most people will buy eight or nine cars in the same period they might have to replace their AC system.  With a little periodic maintenance, your central AC system could work for up to 15 years or even longer if you live where there is a short cooling season.
  2. In the U.S., air conditioning is not just for the wealthy.  AC has become so common in the U.S. that we often take it for granted.  According to the 2011 U.S. Census, the adoption rate of homes with air conditioning in the U.S. is 84 percent, and according to a 2013 survey of a little over 500 Triple Pundit readers, over half of those surveyed said that air conditioning was more of a “necessity” than a luxury.
  3. In the U.S., air conditioning is really efficient.    Although I am not a big fan of more government regulations, in the case of air conditioning, the systems in the US simply had to become more energy efficient to become compliant with some of the highest efficiency minimums in the world.  In doing so, we have also avoided a lot of the power grid infrastructure problems that are happening in other countries that have low (or no) minimum efficiency  levels  and also have a much higher adoption rate of lower efficiency room air conditioners.  It’s always nice to be “world class!”
  4. In the U.S., air conditioning has allowed significant economic growth in the south and southwest regions.  Could you imagine doing business in Florida or Arizona in the summertime without AC?
  5. Last, but certainly not least, in the U.S., air conditioning saves lives.  There was a time in this country when a severe heat wave could cost a lot of lives.  In a 2012 article, the Washington Post reported the results of a study that was titled, “Home air conditioning cut premature deaths on hot days 80 percent since 1960.”  Thanks to American air conditioning!

Now, this is the time of year when you will read a lot of stories about people who wish they were back in the “days before AC” or that we should try to “live without AC” for one reason or another.  For me, I am just thankful that I live in the U.S., and on those really hot days and nights I am truly thankful for my central AC system.