The Perfect Air Conditioning System

Everyone shopping for a new heating and air conditioning system says the same thing, "I want a high efficiency system at a fair price."  Problem is, every system advertizes itself as "high efficiency".  Not only that, but there is a lot more to an air conditioning system than efficiency.  We thought it would be helpful to describe the perfect air conditioning system in terms of features and then give options for each feature in cost order.

High Efficiency.  A perfect air conditioning system is highly efficient. The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) rates all air conditioners by SEER.  The higher the SEER rating, the higher the efficiency.  If you have a system that is over 10 years old, it is most probably rated between 8-10 SEER.  New systems are manufactured at various SEER ratings between 13 and 21.  A 20 SEER system uses half the electricity of a 10 SEER.

Air Conditioning Design Advice For Homebuilders In The New Orleans Area

Energy Efficiency Begins With Home Design

We are seeing renewed interest in the new home market.  If you are considering building, work with your contractor to plan energy efficiency into the home location and design before construction begins.  Surgi's offers free consulting for your new home.

Best-practice measures

Over the past decade, our understanding of the best building practices for hot climates has been significantly advanced by researchers working at the Florida Solar Energy Center. Useful hot-climate research has also been conducted by engineers from the Building Science Corporation; much of this research has been funded by the Department of Energy’s Building America program. The following advice represent a distillation of researchers’ findings:

• Orient the house with the long axis east-west.
• A slab foundation should have perimeter insulation (unless termite concerns preclude it) but no sub-slab insulation. Uninsulated slabs can actually reduce a home’s cooling load.
• Shade is good. Roofs should have wide overhangs, ideally 3 feet wide or wider. Hurricanes like to grab onto roof overhangs, though, so be sure to secure roof trusses or rafters to top plates with adequate hurricane clips. Since a hipped roof can shade all four sides of a house, hipped roofs are preferable to gable roofs.
• Most windows should face north or south. Because they are harder to shade, east- and west-facing windows contribute much more to overheating than north- or south-facing windows; so east- and west-facing windows should be minimized.
• Every effort should be made to shade every window. Windows can be recessed into thick walls or protected by projecting architectural elements. On the east and west elevations, it’s often best to protect any windows with a wide porch.
• It is critical for a home’s air handler and all ductwork to be within the home’s thermal envelope. One way to do this is to “cathedralize” the attic by spraying closed-cell foam insulation against the underside of the roof sheathing. Of course, duct seams should always be carefully sealed; slightly oversized ducts are better than undersized ducts.
• Ceilings or roofs should be insulated to at least R-30.
• If the house has an unconditioned attic, specify radiant-barrier roof sheathing.
• Use highly reflective roofing — ideally, white metal roofing or white concrete tile roofing.
• Wall insulation is much less crucial down south than it is up north; 2 inches of rigid foam (R-10) is probably plenty. If the house has concrete-block walls, install the insulation on the exterior, not the interior.
• Specify windows with a solar heat-gain coefficient (SHGC) below 0.32; if possible, aim for 0.28 or 0.29.
• The home’s thermal envelope should be carefully air sealed.
• While high internal loads — that is, waste heat from lights and appliances — benefit cold-climate houses in winter, such loads hurt the performance of hot-climate houses in summer. So in Florida and Texas, it’s particularly important to install CFLs rather than incandescent bulbs and to specify the most efficient available appliances, including refrigerators and televisions.
• Ceramic tile floors are best. Avoid carpeting.

Reprinted from GreenBuildingAdvisor.Com posted on Oct 9, 2009 by Martin Holladay, GBA Advisor

Need a new system?  Surgi's can help.  Need a healthier, more comfortable life?  We can change the way you feel about your home. 

Call 469-4232 for a free estimate today!

While you are researching try the following articles on Surgi's website:

The Perfect Air Conditioning System

Replace My Condenser Or The Whole Air Conditioning System? When Air Conditioners Fail....

Recently, a friend asked, "Why would I ever consider getting a new air conditioning system when the old one works fine?"  She seemed to make sense.  Her system was 12 years old and, although showing signs of age, was working very well.  She recently had to replace the fan motor on her condenser and add a pound of freon but her system was paid for.

When your system fails many factors come into play - most of them bad.

In our discussion we covered the standard reasons for replacement: higher efficiency, increased comfort, lower humidity, enhanced air quality, renewed warranties...But the main reason?  Reliability.

What convinced her to change out her working system was the risk associated with system failure.  Here's why.

When your system fails and forces you to shop for a new one, many factors come into play - most of them bad.

• The failure usually happens during the hottest times
• The home is unliveable and requires immediate attention
• The research period is small, if any
• Time is more important than brand or quality
• The better companies are busier than the worst companies requiring a longer wait

Don't let your aging system force a bad purchase decision.

Every system reaches a point where the economic benefits of replacement exceed the remaining value.  As an incentive to evaluate your replacement options Surgi's and Trane are now offering up to $1,250 Trade-In on your old system.  

Need financing?  Surgi's offers up to 60 month financing through Wells Fargo.  In fact, if you want to pre-qualify anonymously with no follow-up, click on the Wells Fargo link here or elsewhere on this page.

It's never too soon to start planning and never a better time to buy.  Call us.  Remember, Surgi's advice and estimates are free. 

Need a new system?  Surgi's can help.  Need a healthier, more comfortable life?  We can change the way you feel about your home. 

Call 469-4232 for a free estimate today!

While you are researching try the following articles on Surgi's website:

The Perfect Air Conditioning System

Your home could be losing over $2,000 a year in unnecessary utility bills due to a dirty, inefficient air conditioner.  That's a trip to Gatlinburg or a weekend in Destin or camp for the kids.

Put more fun in your life by having your high efficiency system cleaned twice a year for optimal performance.  Don't have a very efficient system?  Surgi's can install a new Trane high efficiency system for as little as $125 a month or receive an instant credit for up to $1,250.  Surgi's is now offering Free Replacement Estimates and Free Second Opinions on air conditioning repairs.

Call 469-4232 for a free estimate today!

Need a new system?  Surgi's can help.  Need a healthier, more comfortable life?  We can change the way you feel about your home.  

While you are researching try the following articles on Surgi's website:

The Perfect Air Conditioning System
Free Second Opinions