The new HVAC is here! The new HVAC is here!

I love the part in The Jerk when Navin R. Johnson (Steve Martin) says, "The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here. I'm somebody now! Millions of people look at this book everyday! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity - your name in print - that makes people. I'm in print! Things are going to start happening to me now."

We'll, I'm not THAT excited (yes I am) but when I got home from work the other day, the sight of the big Carrier pallet was a beautiful sight to see.

The next day, a team of professional installers swarmed the job site and were seen up, down and all around hoisting the main unit into the attic, running ducting throughout the house and per the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design specifications for ensuring indoor air quality, all ducting is kept sealed throughout the process until the entire system is ready to go online. This keeps any contamination like dirt, dust, mold, smoke, chemicals or are anything else out of the ventilation system while construction is in progress.

Air Solutions Heating & Cooling Inc. is a Factory Authorized Dealer for Carrier. Keith Hilligoss and all the guys at Air Solutions know what they're doing, which is why Carrier awarded them the coveted President's Award in 2008.

Eventually, the attic will be blown with spray foam insulation, keeping this unit within the conditioned space and adding to the efficiency to this already efficient system. We've gone with Carrier's Infinity™ Series. This is Carrier's premier series of products offering the highest in excellence that Carrier's experts have developed. For details about this system, see: http://www.residential.carrier.com/systems/infinity/index.shtml#/home

High-efficiency air conditioners cost more up front than mid-range or minimum-efficiency units (which start at *est. $2,500 to $3,000), but will result in the lowest monthly energy bills and often include additional energy-saving features. Experts say these 16 to 23 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating) air conditioners make sense if you want to make a long-term investment, live in an area with high electricity rates or long air-conditioning seasons, and are willing to pay more at the time of purchase so you can reduce your use of electricity. Most high-efficiency air conditioners are two-stage units, which cool efficiently with less on/off cycling, and they all use the more environmentally friendly coolant R-410A instead of R-22 (Freon). However, your home may need ductwork renovations to accommodate these units, which would add to their total cost. Carrier uses a proprietary coolant called Puron. For details: http://www.residential.carrier.com/knowledge/innovation/puron.shtml