Heating and cooling in Santa Fe
Replacing a furnace, an air conditioner or a heat pump in Santa Fe means following two sets of rules that changed recently. The federal efficiency standard for central air in New Mexico's region went up in 2023. Then the state told mechanical contractors and inspectors that it would enforce the 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code's rules for a new class of refrigerants. Both affect which equipment can go in, how much it costs and what the installer has to do.
The federal minimum for New Mexico
The U.S. Department of Energy puts New Mexico in its hot-dry Southwest region, with Arizona, California and Nevada. In that region, split-system central air conditioners installed on or after January 1, 2023 must be rated at least 14.3 SEER2, or 13.8 SEER2 for units of 45,000 Btu/h and larger, and they must also meet a minimum EER2 rating.
Two things follow from that. First, the minimum is a floor, not a recommendation. A quote can offer more efficient equipment, and the difference in price should be weighed against how much cooling the house actually uses. Second, EER2 measures efficiency at a hot, steady load, which is what a dry Southwest afternoon asks of an air conditioner. Ask for both ratings, and for the model numbers of the outdoor and indoor units together. The rating belongs to the matched pair, not the outdoor unit alone.
The A2L refrigerant change
In an August 28, 2024 memo, New Mexico's Construction Industries Division told mechanical contractors and inspectors that CID and local jurisdictions would enforce the 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code's requirements for A2L refrigerants. Suppliers may sell down their stock of R-410A equipment through 2028.
For a homeowner that means a replacement quote over the next few years could be for either kind of system. Ask:
- Which refrigerant does the new system use? R-410A, or an A2L refrigerant?
- If it's R-410A, how long can parts and refrigerant be expected to be easy to get for it?
- If it's an A2L system, what does the 2024 code require for this installation, such as line sets, leak detection or where the indoor unit can sit, and is that included in the price?
- Can the existing line set be reused? Some can, some can't. It changes the labor.
Check the license
The Construction Industries Division licenses New Mexico's construction contractors and tells consumers to check for a valid license through its online license search. Mechanical work has its own classifications, so check that the contractor's license covers heating and cooling, not just general construction. Put the license number on the contract, and ask whether the job needs a mechanical permit and an inspection.
Sizing the system
A system that's too big turns on and off in short bursts, wastes energy and wears out sooner. One that's too small runs constantly on the hottest and coldest days. Ask whether the contractor will do a load calculation for your house, taking in its insulation, windows, orientation and air leaks, rather than matching the size of the old unit. Older adobe-style and frame houses can behave very differently, and additions often changed the load since the last system went in.
Ducts and airflow
A new system connected to leaky or undersized ducts won't reach its rated efficiency. Ask whether the ducts will be inspected and sealed, whether the return air path is big enough and how the contractor will test airflow once the system is running. If the ducts run through an attic or crawlspace, ask about their insulation too.
Heat pumps
Heat pumps heat as well as cool, and many households replacing an air conditioner look at one. Ask for the heating rating (HSPF2) as well as the cooling ratings, how the model performs at your coldest winter temperatures, what backup heat it has and how the thermostat will decide when to use it.
Comparing quotes
Ask every contractor for the same details in writing: equipment model numbers and ratings, the refrigerant, the load calculation, duct work, the permit, removal of the old equipment, the labor warranty and the parts warranty. Then compare like with like.