SEER Rating

[rlskfoster]

If any HVAC gurus are out there today I have a question about my personal house HVAC SEER rating.

We recently had a new house built and our builder told us we would have a 14 SEER system.

They AC company set Trane XR 13 outside compressors. I checked with the Trane web site and it stated the XR 13 can be a 13 or 14 SEER unit. So I let it go figuring it must be 14 SEER, we have been very pleased with our builder and they had been quick to take care of any concerns I voiced.

I kept thinking about it and decided to check a little further. I sent to Trane the model numbers of the inside coil and outside unit. They sent me an ARI certification stating my set up was a 13 SEER system.

I took that to my builder and he said that I was correct that the units were 13 SEER, but, since they use a 2 speed blower system they get a 14 SEER rating.

What do ya'll think. It makes some sense, but, after three years of inspecting I am always a little suspicious of builders and subv-contractors.

Thanks,

Buster

[Scottpat]

Who ya going to believe the manufacturer or the builder? My bets would be with the folks that made the system. The builder is blowing smoke up your condenser! [:-eyebrow

As for it being a 2 Speed Fan; I don't know of any modern HVAC system that does not have a 2 or 3 speed blower, this does not impact the SEER. One speed is for A/C and one is for Heat. My house has a 3 speed blower, one speed each for the fan, A/C and Heat.

[Jim Katen]

. . .They sent me an ARI certification stating my set up was a 13 SEER system.

I took that to my builder and he said that I was correct that the units were 13 SEER, but, since they use a 2 speed blower system they get a 14 SEER rating.

What do ya'll think. It makes some sense, but, after three years of inspecting I am always a little suspicious of builders and subv-contractors.

Next step is to go back to Trane and ask them.

Practically speaking, you have nowhere near a 13 seer system because the ducts are undoubtedly poorly designed and installed.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[rlskfoster]

Well, more checking and some replies over at Inspection News and I am learning some new stuff. The rating is based on the whole package and when I sent in the info to Trane I did not include the blower package. My blower motor comes on at about 10 to 20% speed and after a minute or two ramps up to full speed. It repeats the same process when it goes off.

I spoke to an old AC friend and he confirms that the use of a 2 speed system can increase a SEER rating, although, he said the best thing was to give Trane all my info and let them tell me the SEER rating for the complete system.

I re-sent my complete system model numbers and serial numbers to Trane and am waiting to hear back from them.

Thanks for the replies.

[Nolan Kienitz]

Buster,

It is not as easy as just looking at the numbers. #'s do well in laboratory situations, but seldom do you get that in actual practice.

As Jim noted above ductwork is key. You can have the highest end system available and a crappy duct installation and your SEER value drops like a rock.

I've worked with many HVAC folks who are real pro-active on such and the bottom line is that trying to nail the "actual" SEER rating of an installation is not easy.

I fully understand your personal need and want. I am very similar, but for the builder to automatically say you have this or that .... does he have documentation and test results of "your" installation?