Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > House
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
View Poll Results: Which combination should I get?
Both 18 SEER for $14,800 0 0%
Both 16 SEER for $13,400 0 0%
Both 14 SEER for $12,000 1 33.33%
18 SEER down/16 SEER up for $14,100 0 0%
16 SEER down/14 SEER up for $12,700 2 66.67%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 3. You may not vote on this poll

Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 03-18-2011, 05:50 AM
 
2,634 posts, read 2,663,339 times
Reputation: 6512

Advertisements

I've read some things online about SEER rating, but of course everyone, even the experts, has their own opinions. Some people say everyone should have stuck with the 7 SEER and anything over that is a waste, while others say get the highest SEER rating you can afford.

I have a 5-ton downstairs that gets used quite a bit since we are in Texas and have a contemporary home. I also have an upstairs that will get used mostly in the evening and at night for 2-3 months a year that is a 4-ton. I'm hoping to keep both units for 15 years or longer and to stay in the house 50+ years.

I've gotten some recommendations about what combinations I should get, but I'm lured by the temptation of high SEER ratings. With this company, the difference between a 16-SEER and an 18-SEER is $700, which doesn't seem like a lot to me. If I plan to keep the unit for 10 years then the 18-SEER needs to save me $5.83 per month($70/year), if I hang on to them for 15 years then it's $3.89($46.67/year) and 20 years is $2.92($35/year). It seems like an 18-SEER should be able to save this much easily, especially when I've seen plenty of Texas bills in the summer spike to $500-$800 for 3 months of the year.

Anyway, I love polls so I'll put the combinations and prices I've been given and let me know what you think.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 03-18-2011, 07:17 AM
 
Location: Johns Creek, GA
17,444 posts, read 65,798,103 times
Reputation: 23573
Quote:
Originally Posted by TXRunner View Post
...but I'm lured by the temptation of high SEER ratings. With this company... I love polls.

In this case- forget the poll!
And the lure may just be a way for the contractor to get more money out of you.
SEER ratings are done by independent laboratories- under the very best of conditions- which is not the average house across the country. So, real field conditions come into play; or "field adjustments". In some cases for example, a house could have a SEER 17 unit but, it's operating at a SEER 9 capacity- where's the "savings" in that?
Generally speaking, a lot of HVAC contractors still don't use, refuse to use, have no earthly idea how to use a Manual J for calculating the size of an A/C system(s) for a house. You say you have 9 tons of cooling right now- old calculation says you have 4500+ sq/ft of house, correct? If that not correct- well, that just proves my point.
With today's ever increasing fuel costs it makes sense to calculate to the very best known abilities. Meaning not only is a Manual J calculation needed but, a Manual D calculation also- especially when upgrading/replacing current systems. If the current contractor you're working with hasn't done a J and D calc, have them do them, or move down the list to the next contractor that will.
Of course; that's just the beginning, along with the properly sized system(s) there is determining if you have the correct amount of insulation in the home. How well is the home sealed? Are the windows a thermal type? Do they have low-E coating? Is the low-E coating correct for your region? Do they have sufficient weatherstripping? Etc., etc.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-18-2011, 07:26 AM
 
Location: Bel Air, California
23,769 posts, read 28,950,682 times
Reputation: 37326
check with your utility on what rebates they may offer. this is our co-op's offering...

(ashp = air source heat pump)


Rebate Amounts - A/C - (ASHP)

SEER 13.0 - 14.4 = $30 - ($330)
SEER 14.5 - 14.9 = $180 - ($480)
SEER 15.0 - 15.9 = $280 - ($580)
SEER 16+ = $330 - ($630)
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:

Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > House
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:46 AM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top