Q: I’m buying a 1,700-square-foot house that is being constructed by a builder. The builder has made me an interesting offer. For just $600, he will either upgrade our air conditioner from a 14 SEER to a 16 SEER level or he will increase our attic insulation to R38. Which of these would be a better choice for me?
A:Â The best decision is to improve your insulation and stick with the 14 SEER air conditioner. The insulation improvement will provide benefits for a whole lot longer than a slightly better air conditioner would. And, of course, a more efficient air conditioner would not provide savings at all times of the year. The letters SEER stand for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficiently your AC will use energy to do its job. But the truth is that the insulation will last much longer than the AC will.
For more tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated “Rosie on the House” radio program, heard Saturday from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
