Charlie: Jack from Willow Bend, “I am a million years listener of your show.”
Tom: Thank you.
Charlie: He was a fan of yours Tom when you were in-vitro.
Tom: More than that.
Charlie: He said he heard you say that Houston we should have a lower SEER, like 14 SEER AC unit because they humidity. He wants to make sure he’s right, or can he go to 13. Do you have a brand you recommend?
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Tom: My starting points are at 13 now. But a lot of the companies, their starting point is at 14 because they’re just trying to up the game and it’s a whole manufacturing process issue. The 13, 14’s are worth looking for, that’s the lowest SEERs. The reason people heard me say that over the years is the higher the SEER rating, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, it has a coil that runs warmer. A warmer coil does not dehumidify as well. You want your coil to be colder. You can get high S-E-E-R’s but you have to tweak them so you get a cold coil, about 25-27 degree drop across the coil to squeeze the water out of the air.
The high efficiency units set up to the standards that the manufacturers give you, it will not do that. That’s where that comes from. Yeah 13, 14 set up well with a good drop across the coil, you get rid of the humidity, you’re going to be much more comfortable. Your energy bills will be very low because they’re very efficient units. Brands I don’t care about, I care more about the company you get because they’re the company that’s going to service it for the next 20-30 years with the new units.