Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine January 2026

HVACR NewsMagazine January 2026

Energy Talk

equipment, we need to remember the bow effect for efficiency. On one side of the bow there are older or less improved properties and on the other end of the bow are the best constructed homes. At the top of the bow are homes in the middle of

and the cost of the systems may fall beyond a practical return on investment (ROI). When we factor in new systems with older designed ducts, the savings are much less. Heat pumps in every home The first misnomer is heat pump capacity. This is particularly concerning when dominate or seasonal capacity is in hot and humid climates. Even when cooling is the dominate season, heating capacity is 15 to 50% higher or more dependent upon construction. If I purchase a heat pump based on needs of cooling, I may be short on heating capacity. If I purchase a heat pump based upon the needs for heating, then the result is possible for cooling. Regardless of fixed capacity (single speed or unloading) or variable capacity (inverter) refrigerant delivery, every system requires accurate sizing based upon a load calculation. A heat pump should never be installed in a dwelling where the blower door ACH is above 4. Above this point the rated capacity will never keep up, even under average conditions. In converting to heat pump, you must always remember the electrical requirements may be triple that of the standard fuel fired furnace calling for electrical upgrades that affect the return on investment. Cosmetic updating dangers of newly updated homes Be careful of older homes for sale on the market that appear completely updated. What looks like a complete package may

the range. These systems at the top benefit greatly from the highest efficiency equipment being installed. If you put high efficiency systems in an older less efficient home, the fact the unit never shuts off will drive energy costs even higher. The very efficiently constructed homes benefit from having less efficient equipment due to a greater time off cycle and slower temperature rise. Generally, variable speed blowers are of benefit to all grades of equipment. Secondly, efficiency ratings on equipment do not translate into savings at the same rate. It is true that a SEER 7 system will cost almost double that of a SEER 14 to operate. Today SEER 7 systems are rare. On average the installed SEER today is above 14 SEER simply by the sheer number of new housing starts over the past three decades. When we compare a SEER 14 system to a SEER 21 system savings will vary between 18 to 28 percent