I just love helping people with cooling problems. I've been doing it for over a half century...installing, servicing and answering people's questions about air conditioning. You can send me your questions just by clicking here.

     Before we can talk intelligently about air conditioners, there are two "semi-technical" terms with which you should be familiar.

     1. HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation, and Air & Conditioning).

     2. SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio).

     SEER is the energy efficiency rating of the cooling output of a central air conditioner. Currently, the DOE's (Department Of Energy) minimum SEER rating is 10. DOE has mandated an increase to 13 effective January 2006.

     The higher the SEER, the more efficient the unit. Remember that the ratings mentioned above are minimum standards, and that any air conditioner that is 10-15 years old only has a SEER rating of about 6. That's because that was the highest rating available back then. Some of today's equipment has SEER ratings of 18 or more.

     For a comparison of what this means in energy savings
($-$-$-$-$), check the chart below:

Cooling Cost Comparison Chart*
New Equipment SEER	Old Equipment SEER	Percentage of Savings
10	6	40%
10	8	20%
12	6	50%
12	8	33%
12	10	17%
14	6	58%
14	8	43%
14	10	29%
14	12	15%
16	6	63%
16	8	50%
16	10	38%
16	12	25%
16	14	13%
18	6	66%
18	8	56%
18	10	45%
18	12	33%
18	14	23%
18	16	12%
* Product of Contractors Advantage Inc.

      That same government dept (DOE) that determines the efficiency ratings of equipment also had this to say in their consumer publication Major Appliance Shopping Guide.

“A heat pump’s performance and energy efficiency not only depend on the selection and planning of the equipment but also on careful installation. Consumers and home builders alike tend to accept the lowest bid for heating and air conditioning work. This unfortunate choice can often leave a system lacking 10 to 30 percent in the materials and labor necessary to optimize heat pump performance. Rather than just accepting the lowest bid, it’s best to research the performance records of local contractors……” **

‘Nuff said!

For some things to look for when consulting a HVAC Contractor click here.

For answers to some of the most "Frequently Asked Questions" click here.

To see the benefits and additional advantages that accrue from Annual Preventative Maintenance For Cooling Systems, click here.

To order a Pre-Season Checkup of your cooling system, to assure safety and economy of operation including Special Web Site Discounts, click here.

To schedule a service call other than pre-season check-up on your Cooling System, click here.

To schedule a Sales Appointment, click here.

For specifications of Lennox High Efficiency Cooling Systems, and Heat Pumps, click below.

Air Conditioner      Heat Pump

By the way, if you have any questions about Heat Pumps call my TWIN brother at “Ask The Heat Pump Answer Man”, just click here.

OR

If you have any questions about Heating Systems, visit my other brother “Ask The Heating Answer Man”, just click here.

P.S. Do your friends and family a favor. E-Mail them the link below so they too can get these Buying Secrets and other answers to their HVAC questions...They will thank you for it!

www.climatemakers.com

**Excerpts of the preceding information was compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Renewable Energy, and published in their Major Appliance Shopping Guide.