heard a guy on talk radio state that higher efficiency air conditioners are
a waste of money.

unfortunately, i didn't get his reasoning, or what seer point is not worth
considering. i am considering replacing my 12 seer with a higher efficiency
unit. my current unit is about 16 years old, but still works (Trane).

is it advisable to replace my 12 seer with a higher seer?

"stevie" wrote in message ...
heard a guy on talk radio state that higher efficiency air conditioners are
a waste of money.

unfortunately, i didn't get his reasoning, or what seer point is not worth
considering. i am considering replacing my 12 seer with a higher efficiency
unit. my current unit is about 16 years old, but still works (Trane).

is it advisable to replace my 12 seer with a higher seer?


This is Turtle.

To change a system out because you want better saving on the hvac system and
only go from a 12 seer to a 13 or 14 seer is not advisiable. saying this is
saying i'm going to trade in my 12 mile per gallion car in a new 13 or 14 miles
to the gallion car and cost me a bundle to trade cars to save a little on the
cost of fuel. Now if you wear out your 12 seer or the 12 seer breaks down. Go
for the higher seers but just don't go because of saving all this money that you
will loose buying a new system.

If your having trouble, just need a new system , or it is broken down. GO with
the higher seers but just don't go for the saving you will get by paying a lot
to get a little in return.

Now this maybe what the fellow was talking about of the higher seer not paying
for the high cost of them.

If you live in the northern states a 12 seer is just about the highest seer that
you need. If you live in the southern states the 12 seer is just about the
lowest seer you should have.

Also there is a problem with the higher seer units in higher humidity areas
which the high seer units tend to not get the water vapor out of the air and
then you have to run at higher temperatures in your house to feel cool. This is
all still being debated and will may one day figure it out. Until then read and
use the above info.

TURTLE

It depends on your climate and cost of power. Wgere are you and what
do you pay for electricity? If your old unit is working fine, not
costing you a lot in repair bills and power bills are not biting your
wallet, I wouldn't bother changing it.

What you hear on talk radio is mostly opinion, not fact. (Mostly BS)
sometimes it is a commercial disguised as information

I am replacing my 16 year old heat pump this year. It has developed a
Freon leak in a place that can't be fixed. My power bills are $150.00
average. I will put in 18.6 SEER Lennox. My power bills should drop
to about $110.00. I will do my own install as I am a Lennox dealer,
and I will get a price break on the unit since it is for my own home.
I live about 6 miles from ocean, so corrosion is a factor. We pay 8
cents per kilowatt hour.

If I knew your situation I could give a better answer.

Stretch

"stevie" wrote in message ...
heard a guy on talk radio state that higher efficiency air conditioners
are
a waste of money.

unfortunately, i didn't get his reasoning, or what seer point is not worth
considering. i am considering replacing my 12 seer with a higher
efficiency
unit. my current unit is about 16 years old, but still works (Trane).

is it advisable to replace my 12 seer with a higher seer?



If the unit still works, keep on having it serviced annually and don't
bother replacing it until it breaks.

As others said just to replace it for efficiency may not pay back. But
you give to little information for help, location, yearly cost to
operate, system condition, system efficiency, house insulation, present
and anticipated Kwh cost and present sizing are important. To go from a
12- 14 seer savings will be not great , maybe 15%. Going to a 19.5 seer
might save 35-40%. The Trane website has a page "Efficiency and Savings"
for Ac units that I pulled those numbers from. Research and run your
numbers, that is the only way for you to learn and know.

m Ransley wrote:

As others said just to replace it for efficiency may not pay back. But
you give to little information for help, location, yearly cost to
operate, system condition, system efficiency, house insulation, present
and anticipated Kwh cost and present sizing are important. To go from a
12- 14 seer savings will be not great , maybe 15%. Going to a 19.5 seer
"might save" 35-40%. The Trane website has a page "Efficiency and Savings"
for Ac units that I pulled those numbers from. Research and run your
numbers, that is the only way for you to learn and know.


There are a multiplicity of factors affecting whether a lot higher SEER
will actually deliver the pro ported savings differential.

If Stretch installs it, --he will probably tell them what all is
necessary to get close to achieving the ultra high SEER rated matched
systems'.
Changing from a 12-SEER to say a 19-SEER may not work properly or
achieve any appreciable savings, without making several other requisite
changes in the ductwork, etc.

Turtle, what you meant to say was that the higher humidity would make
them set the thermostat much lower, to try to feel comfortable; which
would result in very high unnecessary energy consumption costs! I agree
with your comments and the other posts. - udarrell

--
Crank Your Air-Conditioner Up To Specs
http://www.udarrell.com/air-conditio...city-seer.html

stevie wrote:
heard a guy on talk radio state that higher efficiency air conditioners are
a waste of money.

unfortunately, i didn't get his reasoning, or what seer point is not worth
considering. i am considering replacing my 12 seer with a higher efficiency
unit. my current unit is about 16 years old, but still works (Trane).

is it advisable to replace my 12 seer with a higher seer?

Depending on what he compared. If one compare 16SEER vs 19SEER units,
real life savings might be about few cents / month.