Replacing Your AC Unit? BiggerIsn’t Always Better (NAPSA)—Many Americans may not know when it’s time to replace their air conditioners. Industry averages suggest an air conditioner should last 12 to 15 years, as long as a qualified technician performs regular preventa- tive maintenance and service. If your system is around 10 to 15 years old and you are thinking of buying a new one, there are several things to consider. Today’s air-conditioning systems offer a variety of features, including two-stage cooling, humidifiers and ultraviolet lights designed to increase comfort and improve indoor air quality. In addition, today’s systems are as much as 60 percent more efficient than those manufactured 10 years ago, offering dramatically improved energy savings. The Department of Energy measures efficiency in numbers called SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratings. The higher the SEERlevel, the more energy efficient the unit is. For several years, the minimum efficiency standard for newly manufactured heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equip- ment was 10 SEER. But, as of January 2006, manufacturers have been required to stop producing anythingless than 138 SEER. As a result, another thing to consider is the size of your new unit. With the increase in SEER, many manufacturers have had to increase the size of their HVAC products to accommodate the increase in the surface of the coil found in the system’s outdoor All the comforts of home,at least whenit comesto cooling, may be easier and less expensive to acquire than many people realize. unit. However, the York 13 SEER [me]? Microchannel Mini-Cube Air Conditioner from Johnson Controls remains small. With a footprint of 21% inches square, the [mc]? is the smallest 13 SEER airconditioning system in the HVAC industry. The York [mcf is small because it uses an aluminum coil with microchannel technology to provide higher efficiency. This technology significantly reduces size when compared to traditional 13 SEER products and uses far less refrigerant. It is a great fit for multifamily applications or anywhere cooling is essential and space is limited. When deciding what new HVAC unit you want, it can help to get advice from a qualified, licensed and insured contractor, who can explain the importance of efficiency and sound ratings, load calculations, comfort features and warranties. To learn more about the York [me]? Air Conditioners from John- son Controls, visit www.york upg.com or call (800) 910-YORK.
