Are high efficiency-rated air conditioners as powerful as the ones made 15 years ago based on BTUs?

Question

I want to replace my 12000Btu Sharp window AC with a new 10.8 EER one having the same BTUs. The old one has a strong blower which made it great for reaching down into our family room 5 steps below and 35 feet away from the dining room where the unit is installed. the old unit was rated 278 PSIG at high. The new unit is about 280 CFM.

Answer 1

Normal pressure suction 68 psig dischange 240 psig

Answer 2

The BTU rating is what you want to consider when cooling a room. This has nothing to do with 'power'. The part you read at 'being rated at 278 PSIG' is the safe operating pressure of the refrigerant system. The CFM you are reading on the new unit is how much air the blower will move. The max CFM's will be about the same if you stay with the same BTU capacity. Higher BTU's = Higher CFM's, they correlate with one another. What you will notice, again staying with the same BTU, is lower operating costs. And you replacing one that is 15 yrs old, you should notice a substantial energy savings. Good Luck!

Answer 3

The sleeve it is in is more than likely the problem. There should be air inlet louvers on the side of the unit that should be free to pull outside air in unobstructed. Having it inside a sleeve will either restrict it if there is no room around the sides or will recirculate some of the discharge air out the back if there is room around it. If so it may be possible to add louvers or an opening on the side if the building owner allows. Maybe even cutting off the sleeve flush with the outside of the building would allow your unit the free airflow it needs.

Answer 4

The only difference I notice is the older inefficient models seemed to work better on very humid days than the newer ones. I think their evaporators ran at a colder temperatures and dehumidified better under extreme conditions.