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Old 08-16-2009, 10:35 PM
 
380 posts, read 1,228,316 times
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Im here in Dallas TX
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Old 08-17-2009, 06:13 AM
 
Location: I think my user name clarifies that.
8,292 posts, read 26,618,077 times
Reputation: 3925
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamerschris View Post
My system was made in 87' and he said it was a 8 seer. and this new system is a 13 seer? he said it would cut my electric use by 30% and save on my electric bill.... true?
Right on all points - except maybe the 30%.

8 SEER used to be the norm. Now 13 SEER is the norm. You can get a unit with a higher efficiency rating, but you'll pay dearly for it.

As for saving 30%... Well, you might. You might actually save more. It's hard to tell how that'll pay out in real life. But you will see a savings.


It sounds like you've already done your homework, and have gotten several bids. The old 3 ton unit probably wasn't cooling adequately due to low freon & efficiency, not its size. Also, check your attic insulation! I don't know what R-Value they recommend in Dallas, but insulation is extremely important! With proper insulation, and the new AC unit, you may very well cut your electric bill by 50% or more.
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Old 08-17-2009, 07:35 AM
 
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
8,307 posts, read 38,719,714 times
Reputation: 7185
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamerschris View Post
Im here in Dallas TX
Good way to save 30% on your Texas energy bill...

Power to Choose

I was getting RIPPED by TXU and sliced about $300/month off of my monthly bill by switching to a new provider.

Honestly, (and any HVAC guys set me straight if I'm wrong) it sounds like you may be prematurely fixing a problem.
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Old 08-17-2009, 08:26 AM
 
8,652 posts, read 17,211,617 times
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My house wasn't cooling and it was because of leaks in the duct work...I got prices for replacing it and the cheapest was $1200.00...I did it myself for $200.00...Now my home stays cool, bill went down and I did not have to replace my unit like the AC people were telling me I had to do...and my unit is 12 years old....

My brother in law was the one that showed me the leaks in the duct work... Not the AC people!!!!!!
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Old 08-17-2009, 09:23 AM
 
29,939 posts, read 39,401,256 times
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Remember HVAC companies are hurting for business so "replacing" substitutes "fixing" for many of them. Sometimes (probably more than you would think) replacing doesn't solve the problem.
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Old 08-17-2009, 02:50 PM
 
380 posts, read 1,228,316 times
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but dont you guys think that since the system is from 87' that it's tiem to make a switch to a newer more efficent one? it is 22 years old.
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Old 08-17-2009, 03:47 PM
 
Location: Visitation between Wal-Mart & Home Depot
8,307 posts, read 38,719,714 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamerschris View Post
but dont you guys think that since the system is from 87' that it's tiem to make a switch to a newer more efficent one? it is 22 years old.
It very well could be, but I kinda look at the time to switch to a newer, more efficient model as whenever the older, less efficient model breaks down.

There's no way I could reasonably say whether or not it makes economic sense, but it is difficult for me to imagine that replacing a functioning A/C unit solely for the promise of energy savings is going to be an acceptable payout timetable.
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Old 08-17-2009, 04:59 PM
 
29,939 posts, read 39,401,256 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamerschris View Post
but dont you guys think that since the system is from 87' that it's tiem to make a switch to a newer more efficent one? it is 22 years old.
It's fine to replace an old not working system but to do it with a larger system without addressing the distribution system is going to get you in trouble. The distribution isn't a one size fits all system. A 3 ton system needs to move around 1200 cubic feet of air a minutes. If your home is 2000 sq ft with 8 ft ceilings you have 16,000 cubic feet. Now let's say they install a 3 1/2 ton system which now needs to move 1400 cubic feet of air a minute. You're trying to force more air through the distribution system and like any other distribution system it has walls (probably flexible duct work) which creates resistance. The more air you try to push through that system the higher the resistance and higher the pressures.

For example I have a system setup to move 350 CFM per ton. I have too small of a return in the first place so it's not actually doing that anyways. Now I bump it up to 400CFM or higher trying to compensate for the fact that it's not moving enough heat. Not only do I increase the FPM (feet per minute) of the air flow (probably creating a whistling sound in the return and making the supplies sound like small tornadoes) I wasn't moving enough air in the first place and the only thing I really did was create lots of unwanted stress on the system that was already stressed.

Here is a website you can do a little research on before buying. Don't make an impulse buy just because you want to. You might do more harm than good. Take your time and do research, find HVAC forums and ask many many questions. Find websites of mfg's and read.

Tech Corner - Answers to your Technical Questions (http://www.hartandcooley.com/tech_corner.htm - broken link)
http://www.hartandcooley.com/tech%20talk/2006%2003%20Tech%20Talk.pdf (broken link)
http://www.hartandcooley.com/tech%20talk/2007%2003%20Tech%20Talk.pdf (broken link)
http://www.hartandcooley.com/tech%20talk/2005%2004%20Tech%20Talk.pdf (broken link)
http://www.hartandcooley.com/tech%20talk/2006%2004%20Tech%20Talk.pdf (broken link)
http://www.hartandcooley.com/tech%20talk/2004%2009%20Tech%20Talk.pdf (broken link)

Remember "air" conditioning's very first word is "air", not conditioning. If your not moving the air you need to what good is conditioning it. You can make 100 cf of air -200°F but if you mix it with 16,000 cf of air that's 80°F it's not going to do much good. You need to move volumes of air and also the average exchange rate (inside air exchanged with outside air) recommended by ASHRAE is 25%. That means every hour 25% of the air in your home should be exchanged with the air outside the home to purge indoor pollutants. So not only are you conditioning the 16,000 cubic feet in your home every hour your adding an additional 4,000 cf into the mix and it's usually scorching hot weather which I'm sure you know living in Texas.

Last edited by BigJon3475; 08-17-2009 at 05:09 PM..
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Old 08-17-2009, 05:07 PM
 
29,939 posts, read 39,401,256 times
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Let's talk about your A/C system...
Ideas on saving energy

I know, I'm probably creating more questions than answers and that's a good thing.
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Old 08-17-2009, 06:08 PM
 
380 posts, read 1,228,316 times
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Well he and other techs come out and said there switching to a new freon, and that if my condenser broke, i would have to replace everything inside. what is this new stuff there talking about? they said it would be smart to do it. anyway this guy is in the top 20 local dfw independent contractors for Ac's which was a plus to me. he showed me online as well. what is thsi new freon guys? and again are paynes usually good or bad? thank you jon..
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