Month: October 2020

New Governmental Regulations on SEER Affecting Corpus Christi, TX

Federal Restriction on Home Air Conditioners

While it’s still 3 years away, a new government rule is already beginning to impact HVAC companies like our team at Tiger Heating & Air here in Corpus Christi, TX. And at some point over the next several years, it will affect you.

Air conditioners have always had an impact on energy use and the environment. For this reason, these systems face several federal regulations. From the type of refrigerant that can be used in them to how the units are made, the government has regulated air conditioners for decades. The rules on home air conditioners sometimes change, and are about to change yet again.

How will this new change impact you, your home, and your wallet?

First Thing to Know: SEER

Understanding what this regulation change is regarding efficiency requirements for air conditioners starts with knowing what the SEER rating is.

SEER =  Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is a rating of efficiency for air conditioners. The SEER number for an AC unit indicates its energy efficiency. The higher the number, the more efficient it is.

TEXAS AC FACTS: Typically, the AC systems operating in homes have a SEER rating between 10 – 20. For those of you with much older air conditioners, you may have a lower SEER-rated unit. And those with newer ACs may have even have higher SEER-rated systems.

For decades, the government has set mandates for how low of a SEER rating is allowed. In 1975, the U.S. Department of Energy (EPA) set the first standards for the appliances and various equipment in your home. Then the EPA set it’s first SEER rating standards in 1987.

It’s important to note that the SEER rating standards often varied from state to state. Why? The temperature and climate of the different regions across the United States can be widely different. Those factors lead to determining what minimum SEER level your AC should have.

TEXAS AC REQUIREMENT FACTS: For all of us in Texas, the current federal requirement for AC systems to have a SEER rating of at least 14.

This SEER 14 minimum rating for home air conditioners in our region began in 2015. And soon, just 8 years after the last change, the EPA is raising the SEER requirement again.

Is Your Current AC lower than SEER 15?

Don’t worry. You don’t have to suddenly get it replaced, not now and not even before 2023. The raised SEER requirement that is coming is only for new AC units that are getting installed. If your AC is older with a lower rating, you will not be forced to get it replace with a newer, more efficient unit (although there are many reasons why you should consider doing just that).

As we mentioned, a lot of homeowners have older air conditioners with a SEER rating of as low as 10 right now. And that is despite the current SEER requirement for our area being 14. If you were to get a new AC installed this year, you would only be able to purchase one with a SEER of 14 or higher. And if you were to get a new AC installed in or after 2023, you would have to get one with a  rating of at least SEER 15.

The new change to the SEER minimum coming in 2023 will not force you to have to do something immediately.

Who Is First Affected by the 2023 SEER Change?

It’s mostly us, the AC companies. Beginning in 2023, Tiger Heating & Air, along with every heating and air conditioning company in our Texas region, can no longer install an air conditioning unit with a SEER rating of 14 or less. The new federal regulation means all home air conditioners we install will be SEER 15 or higher.

Because our climate varies widely across the country, it’s a different situation in other states than for the Texas AC requirement. For HVAC companies in states further north, they do not have as high of requirements. Our northern friends will only be able to install air conditioners with a minimum rating of SEER 14 starting in 2023.

How Will You be Affected?

To put it simply, you likely won’t be affected by this regulation change. This SEER 15 rule will only be a potential issue for homeowners replacing a cooling system on or after January 1st, 2023. Even then, the raised SEER standards will not likely impact you significantly.

HVAC technology has come a long way over recent years. Not only do you have a lot of different cooling systems to choose from, you have great and affordable options to increase your energy efficiency.

If your current AC breaks down and you do need one in 2023, there is a good chance that you will not even consider a system that is less than SEER 15. For not much of a price difference, you can buy an air conditioner with a high SEER rating that runs more efficiently and puts out more reliably cool air.

Rarely does a homeowner in Corpus Christi choose a SEER 14 (or less) air conditioner. When you hire Tiger for a professional AC installation, we’ll provide you all the information you need to consider the options of different systems. We will help you to determine the AC that is right for your home.

Why do most people already choose cooling systems with a high SEER? One reason people decide upon a higher SEER rating is that it saves them money. Your energy bills be significantly reduced with a more efficient unit. Over time, you’ll see that how much you save on energy bills may make up for the cost of a new unit.

Bottom Line: The Impact of the 2023 SEER 15 Rating Change

As we’ve explained, homeowners across the Corpus Christi area will face minimal impact with this upcoming regulation change. If you are working with a trusted, professional AC company, they’ll explain why a higher SEER rating is beneficial. This increased efficiency standard may force those who are reluctant to pay a little more for a better system.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration states that these increased standards for SEER will add up to a savings of $2.5 billion to $12.2 billion on energy bills during the first 30 years that the 2023 regulatory change takes affect.

Still Confused About AC SEER 15 Rules affecting Corpus Christi?

Give us a call! Our Tiger Heating & Air team is knowledgable on all the rules and restrictions regarding residential and commercial air conditioning systems. We are always happy to make sure homeowners know and understand anything that could affect them and their home. Call us at (361) 852-4450 or send us a message online, and we will address any questions you have.

Troubleshooting Steps When Your Air Conditioner Leaks

Over our Corpus Christi summers, your air conditioner is working day and night to keep your whole house cool. A well-maintained system that is not too old should be able to keep up with the demand to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. But problems still can happen.

Often people find out their air conditioner is broken or has problems by their home getting hot. But sometimes the sign of a problem comes in the form of a water leak.

Finding your AC leaking water can be a problem in a few different ways. Not only that, the leaking water may be causing damage to your home.  Whatever is causing the leak is often a problem that, if left unhandled, will cause whatever problem you have to become worse.

How do you know if you are dealing with a leak caused by your HVAC system? Usually the place where you notice the water pooling or dripping from is a good indicator.

Do you have a water puddle on your floor near the A/C closet?
If the water leak is leaving a puddle on your floor, it is likely coming from your HVAC system. That water is probably coming from the indoor unit of your home’s cooling system.

Is water dripping from a ceiling below your attic?
Are you seeing drips come down from your ceiling? If this is occurring right below your attic where your HVAC system is located, then it could be coming from your AC.

Do you Need to Call an Air Conditioner Repair Company Right Away?

Not necessarily. While many problems that may cause an AC to leak do need to be handled by a professional, the problem may be something relatively simple to fix on your own.

If you feel capable of handling some level of basic HVAC repair, you can troubleshoot some of the possible problems causing your leak.

If you are not able to fix the problem yourself, you will need to call a professional air conditioner technician. Here at Tiger Heating and Air, we have experienced air conditioning technicians who can handle repairs on any type or model of cooling system. Call us anytime for quick service at (361) 852-4450. We are even available for 24/7 emergency air conditioner service.  

Understanding Why Water is Leaking from Your Air Conditioner

You need to first realize that your air conditioner naturally is creating water. How? As it works hard to cool and dehumidify your entire house, moisture is pulled from the air and collects inside the air conditioner system. All that water gathers into a drain pan then goes down a drain line.

Water Dripping from A/C: 5 Likely Reasons

Before anyone can fix the cause of this leak, we need to determine what exactly is causing it. Water dripping from your air conditioner could happen due to a few different reasons. Many of them do require a professional air conditioner repair company to fix. Some can be attempted by homeowners who feel confident in doing some more complicated home repair tasks.

If you try some of the basic troubleshooting steps and they don’t solve the leak, schedule a service call with Tiger and we will come out to determine the cause of the problem and get it fixed.

1. Dirty Air Filter (DIY Troubleshooting)
   This is a step you can (and should) attempt to handle yourself. You just need to replace your air filter. You may be finding that you are not replacing your air filter as often as you need to. You should be checking your filter every month and examining it. Change it out when it appears dirty, even if it is ahead of your typical filter change schedule.
2. A Broken Condensate Pump (Possible DIY Troubleshooting)
   An air conditioning system sometimes has a condensate pump. It works to direct water created by the air conditioner to a floor drain or sink. A condensate pump can break and therefore prevent water from getting pumped out of your house.

   This is a problem some homeowners may want to try to troubleshoot themselves. To do so, disconnect the drain line and empty out all the water. Remove the check valve. Plug the pump back in to see if it is working. If it is still not working, you can try purchasing a replacement condensate pump. If replacing it also doesn’t solve the problem, then the issue may be a dirty check valve. You can try to clean it or replace it.

3. Clogged Condensate Drain Line (Call a Pro)
   A problem with your air conditioner’s condensate drain line is probably not something for you to fix this yourself. There are ways to try to tackle this clog with a wet/dry vac, but professional air conditioner technicians have specific tools designed to fully clear out whatever is blocking an air conditioner’s condensate drain line.
   
   
4. Damaged Drain Pan (Call a Pro)
   One reason for a leaking air conditioner is because the drain pan has become rusted or damaged. Some AC units allow for the drain pain to be replaced. Whatever the case, this is a repair that is best left to a professional because a drain pan is typically too hard to access.
   
   
5. Refrigerant is Low (Call a Pro)
   An air conditioner that is running low on refrigerant can cause several problems. Low refrigerant can cause the evaporator coil to freeze. This can lead to eventual melting, overflowing the drain pan and creating a puddle.

    

Professional Corpus Christi Air Conditioner Repair 

Call Tiger Heating & Air in Corpus Christi at (361) 852-4450 and we will come out and check your system. If we see that your system is low on refrigerant, we will replace all that is needed.

How to Prevent an A/C Leak

The good news is that an air conditioning leak can be prevented. Regular maintenance work done on your cooling system should reveal signs of problems early on. Catching issues early can prevent your system from breaking down or causing problems like water leaks to your home.

Call on Tiger Heating & Air for the maintenance you need on your air conditioning system.