If Your Old
Equipment Works, Why Replace It?
Heating and cooling systems of 15 years ago, like automobiles of that
era, simply lack the efficiency of systems produced today.
Most older furnaces are vastly
less efficient than models
Bryant has introduced. A typical gas
furnace installed in 1970, for example, operates now at around 60%
efficiency. Bryant furnaces, depending on the model, are up to 96.6%
efficient. This means the older furnaces cost nearly twice as much to
operate.
Older air conditioners have the
same drawback. They are rated by SEER (Seasonal Energy
Efficiency Ratio) numbers. The higher the number reflects more
efficient energy use. Today, the government requires air
conditioners to have a SEER rating of 13, instead of yesterday's SEER
rating of 10. The government has also made a change in the type
of refrigerant a unit can have. The most commonly used
refrigerant, R-22, will be phased out by the year 2010. New
units will be made to use Puron (a non-ozone-depleting refrigerant).
While you will still be able to run your existing R-22 unit, costs of
servicing this equipment will be much higher.
