In January of 2006, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) began enforcing stricter regulations regarding the efficiency of air conditioning and heat pump systems. The standard by which they gauge these systems is called SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating). For nearly 10 years, the minimum standard efficiency has been 10 SEER, but now is 13 SEER. The good news is that you can expect approximately a 23% increase in efficiency between 13 SEER and 10 SEER units; however, other complications exist.

Manufacturers must now cease production of 10 SEER units and components. The older units on many of your houses will continue to function, but will eventually be phased out as replacement parts become unavailable. If no 10 SEER parts are available, it will necessary to upgrade the system to a 13 SEER unit, which may require modification to ensure compatibility within the system. Some modifications will still result in less than peak efficiency and costs could range between several hundred to several thousand dollars.

The 13 SEER units are physically larger and will affect pricing in several ways. The bigger units may not fit where the older unit did and may require different pads, air handlers and other equipment for compatibility. The larger size will take more warehouse and truck space and possibly more than one person to install.

Most home warranty companies have increased their pricing in anticipation of these increased costs. Some are also offering upgraded coverage, so check with your company for details.

Lee was a professional mountaineering guide, climber and professional avalanche team/ski patroller for over 10 years. Lee originally comes from west Texas, and moved to Charlotte, NC at an early age. Lee went to school at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Real Estate. Lee moved to Washington State where he built custom homes in summer and in winter