What is "Title 24" and duct testing?

Most homes have a duct system that delivers cooled or heated air from the air conditioning or heating unit to the home's living spaces. The average duct system leaks about 30 percent of the conditioned are into the attic or crawl space. Leaky ducts waste energy and make energy bills higher than they should be. Properly sealed ducts will make your home more comfortable and save you money.

The 2008 Building Energy Efficiency Standards require testing of ducts after a central air conditioning or heating system is installed or replaced in most existing homes. Duct systems that leak 15 percent or more must be sealed by the installing contractor. The work of contractors is checked by third-party field verifiers (more commonly referred to as Home Energy Rating System (HERS) raters) to ensure that ducts have been properly sealed.

Before you call for your city inspection, the homeowner must have all Title 24 paperwork and certificates on hand, along with the permit. The waiting period for obtaining all the Title 24 certifications from your contractor is about 12 weeks.

2.

Do I need a permit?

Make sure your contractor gets a permit. Keep in mind that any conractor failing to obtain a required permit is violating the law and exposing you to additional cost and liability. Real estate law requires disclosing to potential buyers and appraisers whether required permits for work done on a home were obtained. If work was done without a required permit, you may be required to bring your home into compliance with current code requirements before selling it, in addition to possibly paying penalty permit fees and fines. Additionally, your homeowners insurance policy may be voided if it is found that work was done without a required permit. 

3.

What is "SEER"?

SEER is a standard of measurement of seasonal cooling efficiency under an average number of weather changes over a season. SEER stands for "Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio."

So, where your old unit most likely had just an EER rating, today's units have a rating which is in essence the average of its EER over a standardized season. The higher the number, the more energy efficient the unit.

Higher SEER rating air conditioners and heat pumps can pay for their added cost many times over because they consume less energy. And the savings continue year after year.

4.

Why do I need someone to come to my home for an estimate?

To size the correct equipment to your home in order to provide you with an accurate bid. 

The standard practice for sizing air conditioning and heat pump systems is to do what is called a heat load calculation on the structure. To do this, a Manual J heat gain calculation is used. Manual J will help the air conditioning company size the air conditioning equipment based on the outdoor design temperatures, attic and wall insulation, window types and locations, elevation of the home, and other structural and environmental factors.

We know you are busy - our estimator will only require about one hour of your time, depending on the amount of questions you may have.

5.

Are new air conditioning units environmetally safe?

There has been much concern lately as to what type of refrigerant the new units use and how much longer current refrigerants will be available.

The refrigerant in your air conditioner or heat pump system is a chemical known as HCFC-22 (Hydrocholrofluorocarbon). It contains hydrogen, chlorine, flourine and carbon.

CFC's (Chlorofluorocarbons) contain chlorine, fluorine and carbon. CFC's are used as refrigerants in small appliances and automobiles. CFC's are very stable and do not break down in the lower atmosphere. They can remain in the atmosphere for 100 years or more. Because HCFC's contain hydrogen, they can break up quickly and have short life span.

The government has called for a phase out of CFC's by 1996. Under the federal Clean Air Act, HCFC's will be phased out by 2030. Because the new units use HCFC's, they will be available until 2030.

How long can I expect my air conditioner to last?

An air conditioner's efficiency lifetime depends on several factors:

• Climate
• System maintenance
• Unit's quality and size

All of these factors work together to shorten or lengthen a system's lifetime.

If you have a system that has been properly sized for your home and you keep it properly maintained, it should last as many as 15 years with minimum problems. But if the size is incorrect or the unit is maintained only when it breaks, the lifetime can easily be reduced by five or more years.

Usually a major component such as the motor or the compressor wears out first. Depending on the age of the unit, you might save money by getting those parts fixed. However, it may be a good idea to look at the efficiencies of current models. A more efficient system could save you more money during the next 15 to 20 years of its life.

A new system will usually reduce operating costs, lower your monthly energy use, and should keep your house more comfortable for less money. The reduced operating costs may pay for the additional cost of replacing rather than repairing the unit.