Central Air Conditioners

Central Air Conditioner

PG&E no longer offers a rebate for this product. However, the following information can be useful in making a decision when purchasing energy-efficient products and equipment.


Product Information

Always use a qualified C-20 contractor or technician to install and service your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Also, be sure that your contractor applies for and receives a final inspection on your HVAC installation permits. Under the October 2005 Title 24 California Building Code provisions, some new HVAC systems installed in established climate zones may be subject to mandatory duct sealing requirements. A licensed C20 contractor can help determine if your system falls under this code requirement.

A system refrigerant check-up is a recommended service that should be performed when the equipment is first installed and during annual system check-ups. A refrigerant tune-up should be conducted if the system check indicates that one is needed. Once the system has been properly charged with refrigerant and has good airflow across the indoor coil, and assuming there is no damage to the duct system, only basic service such as changing filters and cleaning the outdoor unit annually should be needed to maintain the system operation at peak performance levels.

Duct Testing: Why Is It Important

The ducts that are part of central heating and cooling systems offer one of the best opportunities to increase your energy efficiency, increase your comfort, and manage your energy bills. Studies indicate that 10%-30% of the heated or cooled air is lost-along with the money spent to heat or cool that air-through leaky ducts. Properly sized, installed, and sealed ductwork will make your heating and cooling systems significantly more efficient. For more information, download our brochure titled Why is Duct Testing Important? (PDF, 413 KB)

When To Test

Duct testing is strongly recommended by PG&E when a new air conditioning unit is being installed, or when you are having an existing system serviced. If the existing duct system is leaky and inefficient before the new unit is installed, it will still be leaky and inefficient after the new unit is installed-unless the ducts are tested and sealed by a qualified contractor. It does not make sense to install a new, energy-efficient air conditioning unit unless the duct system is also energy efficient.

The table below can help you and your contractor to determine which product is best suited for your home or business application:

TierSEEREERRATINGTXV
ENERGY STAR
& CEE Tier 1		14.5 Split
14 Package		12 Split
11 Package
GoodRequired in CA
CEE Tier 215 Split
14 or higher Package		12.5 Split
12 or higher Package		Better
Qualifies for
Federal Tax Credit		Required in CA
CEE Tier 316 or higher Split13 or higher SplitBest
Qualifies for
Federal Tax Credit		Required in CA
Geothermal—EER- 13.0 COP-4.0Best
Qualifies for
Federal Tax Credit		Required in CA

SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
EER: Energy Efficiency Ratio
TXV: Thermal Expansion Valve
COP: Coefficient of Performance

Things To Consider During The Purchase

  • Contact a licensed C-20 contractor of your choice to provide an installation proposal for air conditioning products. You may wish to contact and consult with more than one contractor to obtain multiple proposals for various energy-efficient models that meet your specific needs. You can contact the Contractors State License Board, CSLB, at 1-800-321-CSLB or at  www.cslb.ca.gov to confirm your contractor's license status.
  • " For a list of qualified products, visit the HVAC Directory on the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) Web site. Ask your contractor to provide you with the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) Reference number for future reference.

For any questions, please call our Smarter Energy Line (SEL) at 1-800-933-9555

Helpful Information

More Information from ENERGY STAR®

More Information from the California Energy Commission

On their Web site, the CEC offers several free, informative downloadable videos for consumers. Topics covered include HVAC, energy-efficient windows, insulation and more. In order to view videos on this site, a current version of RealPlayer or Quick Time Player is required.

This program is funded by California utility customers and administered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. This program shall at all times be subject to change or termination without prior notice.

Additional Info

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