13 SEER Changes

Bill_14

John,

Could you please put up the link of the August, 2005 article in ACHR NEWS concerning 13 SEER Changes by Butch Welsch with Welsch Heating & Cooling in St. Louis?

Thanks,
Bill Russell

John R. Hall

Actually

We have a ton of 13 SEER links on our home page (www.achrnews.com). Look on the left column for "What's Up With 13 SEER?"

Thanks for asking. A lot of contractors (yes, including wetheads) are unfamiliar with the huge ramifications of this new efficiency standard.

don_166

I could

name one..size. I wonder where they going to put those big airhandler at now when it comes to all the condos out there.

I just recently had to go back with a 10 seer unit on one
last week because their was no room.

I see lots of compressor changes coming up in the future.

Do you think it will force the builder to start designing a
mechanical room now?

John R. Hall

Doubtful

Mechanical rooms would add to the cost of the home. The size of the condensing unit is a given but there is enough outdoor space to cover that. The coil on the indoor unit will be larger and that could be a problem. I see the biggest concern, sizewise, as shipping and storage.

Bill_14

Thank You John Hall

That is a great source of information on 13 SEER "need to know". There is a whole lot of incorrect information being floated around and most of it is not accurate. The achrnews website helps much!!

Thanks again.

Bill Russell

Bill_14

Oops

You gotta' have your subscription number to look at your links...right? I give up...my magazines have been handed out to my techs.

Bill

John R. Hall

Bill

Thanks for the compliments. Contact me via e-mail and I'll explain your options.

Jeff Lawrence_24

Size is right!

I bid on a job where the homeowner wanted a 14 SEER AC on his furnasty. I had to buy a trailer to haul the thing on! Not only that, but the big monster holds 278 ounces of R22. That's 17 pounds, 6 ounces! Twenty five foot line set, evap coil and condenser.

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Constantin

Hmmm...

You've all hit a raw nerve in this industry, AFAIK. I recently read an article claiming that Carrier is now investigating the use of Modine-like aluminum HX's similar to the ones used in cars. The drawback: cost.

All the major manufacturers have assembled huge plants to build their own tube and fin HX's and that's a huge fixed investment that will go up in smoke if they go with the Modine-style extruded and brazed coils. Plus, there are all those pesky patents that protect the Modine HX, making a switch that much more expensive.

On the other hand, I saw an alleged 12SEER, 3-ton condenser unit from Peregrine at a tradeshow a few years back that was maybe 3-4x bigger than the compressor it was housing. In other words, for the capacity and efficiency stated, the unit was 10x smaller than the average AC out there.

My guess is that manufacturers will respond with premium units that are tiny to serve a specific market, while reserving the "old school" tube and fin heat exchangers for the regular AC market where size is not as objectionable.

don_168

The

fun is only just beginning Jeff.Wait till you have to setup a come along so you can lower yourself down inside the unit and remove all the leaves.

B. Tice

A/C

I just can't get over how big these things are. Gonna need 3 men to wrestle these things around.

Jeff Lawrence_24

Thanks

I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read that. I would have decorated the keyboard and screen...

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John Mills_5

Most of the new

units I saw at Comfortech have gotten the size down. Some are smaller than their current 12 SEER outdoor units. Nordyne didn't have any 2006 units out and their current units are rather large. I saw a monster in the American-Standard booth they said was a 13 SEER 3 ton. With the Spine Fin coil and recip compressor, I guess they will have to be big. But others aren't too bad. Armstrong's biggest footprint is 30x30. Carrier is touting some new skinny copper tubing to keep their stuff small.

Timothy Trexler, Jr

> Wait till you

> have to setup a come along so you can lower

> yourself down inside the unit and remove all the

> leaves.



LOL...I think I have an idea for a new specialty tool! TT