Chapter 19 Further Reading: Air Conditioning and Cooling Systems

Technical References and Books

1. "Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology" by Whitman, Johnson, and Tomczyk The standard textbook used in HVAC trade schools for refrigeration fundamentals. The sections on refrigerant cycles, system components, and troubleshooting are thorough and accurate. Heavy going for non-technicians but invaluable if you want to understand exactly what's happening inside the system. Available at technical bookstores and Amazon; look for a recent edition.

2. "Principles of Refrigeration" by Roy J. Dossat and Thomas J. Horan A classic technical reference on refrigeration physics. More focused on the thermodynamics than the trade-school textbook above. Accessible to motivated homeowners who want to understand why refrigerant cycles work, not just how to operate them.

3. ACCA Manual S: Residential Equipment Selection The industry standard for selecting properly sized cooling (and heating) equipment based on Manual J load calculations. If a contractor tells you they're using Manual S to select your replacement system, that's a good sign. Understanding the framework helps you evaluate contractor proposals.

Government and Industry Resources

4. U.S. DOE ENERGY STAR — Central Air Conditioners (energystar.gov) The EPA's ENERGY STAR program maintains current minimum efficiency thresholds and certified product lists for central AC systems. Their buying guides explain the SEER2 standard and what efficiency level makes sense for different climates and usage patterns. Free, current, and reliable.

5. U.S. EPA Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program — Refrigerants (epa.gov/snap) The EPA's SNAP program regulates acceptable refrigerant alternatives. Their website has the current approved refrigerant list, phaseout schedules, and technical summaries of R-22 regulations, R-410A status, and the transition to A2L refrigerants. Essential for understanding the R-22 situation and what's coming next.

6. Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) — Air-Source Heat Pump Product List (ashp.neep.org) While primarily focused on heat pumps, NEEP's database includes cooling performance data for air-source heat pumps (which are also AC systems). The database includes performance at multiple outdoor temperatures — useful for evaluating real-world performance rather than just laboratory SEER ratings.

7. Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) AHRI is the industry trade group and certifies equipment performance ratings. Their online directory (ahrinet.org) lets you look up any AHRI-certified equipment and verify the manufacturer's SEER/SEER2 claims independently. If you're comparing systems, use AHRI ratings rather than manufacturer marketing materials.

Consumer and Homeowner Resources

8. Consumer Reports — Air Conditioner Buying Guides Consumer Reports publishes annual AC buying guides based on testing and reliability surveys. Their reliability data (which brands have better long-term track records) is particularly valuable — reliability isn't captured in SEER ratings but is arguably more important for long-term ownership. Available with CR subscription (consumerreports.org).

9. Home Energy Magazine — Cooling System Articles Home Energy is a technical but accessible publication for energy professionals that regularly covers residential cooling topics. Back issues are searchable at homeenergy.org. Articles on refrigerant transitions, duct system interactions, and cooling load reduction strategies are relevant to this chapter.

10. Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) — Cooling Research (fsec.ucf.edu) FSEC is one of the leading research centers for residential cooling in hot climates. Their published research on duct system effects on AC performance, system oversizing impacts, and refrigerant transitions is freely available online and highly practical. If you live in Florida or another hot, humid climate, their research is directly applicable.

Specific Topic Resources

11. Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC — Consumer Mini-Split Education Resources Mitsubishi (now Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US) publishes accessible consumer education materials on mini-split technology through their website (mitsubishicomfort.com). Their "Zuba" and "Hyper-Heating" product pages explain cold-climate heat pump performance in plain language with charts. Useful for evaluating whether a mini-split makes sense for your application.

12. R-22 Transition Guide — ACCA Technical Resources ACCA has published technical guidance for contractors and consumers on R-22 system decisions — when to repair, when to replace, and what to expect from the recycled R-22 market. Available through ACCA's member resources; some portions are publicly accessible at acca.org. The framework for repair-vs-replace decisions in Section 19.4 of this chapter draws on this guidance.