Mis-Matched Systems: Unethical and Now Illegal!
What's New in the mismatch outdoor unit situation? Glad you asked!
The Energy Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and subsequently the Florida Building Commission (FBC), ruled on a Declaratory (DEC) statement in October determining when changing the outdoor unit only without a change of the air handler, the installing contractor must prove compatibility with an ARI rating, ARL tested combination (or any reputable laboratory), manufacturer's letter or a P.E. certifying that this system will operate correctly.
Many contractors say that they install outdoor units only as change outs all the time and they work great! I say "you must know something Trane, Carrier, Bryant, Lennox, etc. and the folks from the Alabama Power test lab don't! They aren't able to make a 10-SEER AHU operate correctly with a 13-SEER or greater outdoor unit.
The Energy Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and subsequently the Florida Building Commission (FBC), ruled on a Declaratory (DEC) statement in October determining when changing the outdoor unit only without a change of the air handler, the installing contractor must prove compatibility with an ARI rating, ARL tested combination (or any reputable laboratory), manufacturer's letter or a P.E. certifying that this system will operate correctly.
Many contractors say that they install outdoor units only as change outs all the time and they work great! I say "you must know something Trane, Carrier, Bryant, Lennox, etc. and the folks from the Alabama Power test lab don't! They aren't able to make a 10-SEER AHU operate correctly with a 13-SEER or greater outdoor unit.
