What Consumers Don’t Know About Central Air Conditioning Could Hurt Them.

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The problem with this decision is that the two parts of a split air conditioning or heat pump system – the indoor (coil) unit and outdoor (condensing) unit -- are specifically designed to work together as a coordinated “team” to provide top performance and maximum efficiency and comfort.

“Replacing only one of the two units will not achieve a higher efficiency, and could in fact reduce the system’s capacity and efficiency to cool a home by up to 40 percent,” said Stephen Yurek, president of ARI, an organization that independently tests and certifies the efficiency of cooling systems. “What this means is that the system may not be able to keep up with the thermostat setting and run constantly. This will result in higher power bills because the system will have to work harder and run longer to keep the house cool.”

Consumers need to ask their air conditioning installers to provide proof that the split cooling systems they are installing are properly matched to achieve their certified energy-efficiency ratings. This proof may be either an ARI Reference Number, which is assigned to every ARI Performance Certified™ system or a Certificate of ARI Certified Performance, which contains its reference number as well as the system’s certified efficiency ratings. An ARI Reference Number can be entered into ARI’s free online Directory of Certified Product Performance at www.aridirectory.org to verify the system’s certified energy efficiency ratings.

ARI is offering consumers a free brochure that explains the importance of a properly matched system. To obtain a free “Perfect Match” brochure, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to ARI Perfect Match, 4100 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22203. The brochure also can be downloaded for free from ARI’s Web site at www.ari.org and click on “Consumers.”

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What Consumers Don’t Know About Central Air Conditioning Could Hurt Them.

Improperly matched split AC systems can increase power bills, reduce comfort

Arlington, VA —The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) is advising homeowners facing the purchase of a new high-efficiency cooling system not to make the mistake of only replacing the broken outdoor unit of their two-part system. While it may be a less expensive option, they will likely find this short-term fix results in greater expense and frustration down the road.

After a new government law went into effect last year that raised the minimum efficiency of central air conditioning systems by 30 percent, the cost of these systems increased as well. The increased cost of high-efficiency systems may tempt homeowners to skimp on the expense and just replace the broken outdoor unit to save money.

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