Cooling FAQ

What is 2 Stage Cooling?
Two-stage cooling means the air conditioner or heat pump has a compressor with two levels of operation: high for hot summer days and low for milder days. Since the low setting is adequate to meet household-cooling demands 80% of the time, a two-stage unit runs for longer periods and produces more even temperatures.
Longer cooling cycles also translate to quieter, more efficient operation and enhanced humidity control. Compared to a single-stage unit, a two-stage air conditioner or heat pump can remove twice as much moisture from the air. This is important because when moisture levels are high, there's a higher potential for mold and other pollutant problems.

What is Puron?
The 1990 Clean Air Act identified refrigerant R-22—the longtime industry standard refrigerant used in most air conditioning and heat pump systems—must be phased out.
Carrier's extensive testing in hundreds of thousands of homes has proven that Puron Refrigerant is superior to R-22 not only in environmental safety, but in performance and energy efficiency. These outstanding results have made Puron Refrigerant the universally accepted, long-term refrigerant for the heating and cooling industry.

Is Puron Refrigerant Right For Me?
If you are considering upgrading your air conditioner or heat pump, keep in mind that Carrier's Puron Refrigerant-based products offer several homeowner benefits, including:

  • Energy Efficiency — Most of our Puron Refrigerant air conditioners and heat pumps offer higher efficiency ratings. Puron Refrigerant's heat-transfer properties lend themselves to higher-efficiency performance.
  • Future Cost Of Service Savings — Because of U.S. government restrictions on future production, refrigerants with ozone-harming CFCs, the refrigerant used in most of today's heat pumps and air conditioners, will become harder to find and, eventually, more expensive. Upgrading to Puron Refrigerant now can help you avoid the potential rising cost of servicing most of today's air conditioners and heat pumps.
  • Reliability — Carrier air conditioners and heat pumps with Puron Refrigerant have become the most reliable products in our entire line.
  • Quiet Operation — Many of the air conditioners and heat pumps with Puron Refrigerant also offer Carrier's Silencer System technology for quieter operation.

What is a SEER?
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is a system for rating the efficiency of cooling equipment. The higher the SEER rating, the less your unit will cost to operate. The efficiency of central air conditioning units is governed by U.S. law and regulated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Every air conditioning unit is assigned an efficiency rating known as its “seasonal energy efficiency ratio” (SEER). The SEER is defined as the total cooling output (in British thermal units or Btu) provided by the unit during its normal annual usage period divided by its total energy input (in watt-hours) during the same period.

After of January 2006, no units with a SEER rating lower than 13 will be produced in the USA.

How does Air conditioning work?
Central air conditioning helps keep your home cool and reduces humidity levels. By transferring heat from air located inside your home to the outside, conditioned and cooled air is left to be re-circulated. Using electricity as its power source, the compressor inside an air conditioning unit pumps coolant, or refrigerant, back and forth to gather heat and moisture from indoors. Warm air from inside is blown over the cooling coil. This cycle continues until the thermostat is satisfied and shuts off the system.

Should I cover my Air Conditioner?
Yes and No, covering your outdoor Air Conditioning condenser unit in the winter is a good idea. It will help prevent dirt, leaves, and other debris from getting in the condenser fan and the coils. It might help extend the life of the condenser unit or just make it easier to clean in the spring. However you should only cover the top and a few inches of the side allowing moisture to evaporate if trapped inside the unit. Do now wrap the unit air tight. Trapped moisture could promote rusting of the equipment. Also be sure to remove the cover before turning the unit on. Be sure your unit is not a heat pump because a heat pump needs to be UNCOVERED all year long.

How long should my system last?
Typically a furnace or air conditioner will last 10-15 years. Sometimes it pays to replace the old system sooner because of the higher efficiency (lower gas and electric bills) provided by newer equipment. Life expectancies can vary greatly. Maintenance is a must to maximize efficiency and protect your investment.
Click here to learn about our peace of mind maintenance agreement.