Product Review: Carrier Comfort 13 24ABB3

The more money you need to spend, the greater the anxiety that goes into the decision. This is especially true in HVAC, where units can cost $15,000 or more, and can last 15 years or more.

Do you want to spend that much on a lemon? I didn’t think so.

Will you get talked into buying an air conditioner that is nothing but endless repair bills?

Looking through brands and models of air conditioners may alleviate some confusion, or it could make it worse.

At Fire & Ice, we’ve sold thousands of them, so we know a great product when we see it. That’s why we’re going to talk about the benefits of Carrier’s Comfort 13 (model #24ABB3).

The Comfort series of air conditioners give you simple, efficient, and affordable cooling. It might be the perfect unit for you.

In this review, we’ll cover:

• Features of the Carrier 24ABB3 Comfort 13 Air Conditioner
• Efficiency of the Carrier Comfort 13 Air Conditioner
• What Equipment Can I Pair with the Carrier Comfort 13?
• What Is the Correct Size Air Conditioner for Your Home?
• 5 Ways to Extend the Life of the Carrier Comfort 13 Air Conditioner
• Who’s the Right Fit for the Carrier 24ABB3 Comfort 13 Air Conditioner?
• Who’s Not a Right Fit for the Carrier Comfort 13?
• What Is the Cost of a Carrier 24ABB3 Comfort 13 Air Conditioner?
• And Finally, What Are the Next Steps?

Features of the Carrier 24ABB3 Comfort 13 Air Conditioner

Carrier air conditioners have been around for more than 100 years, and their brand name signifies quality and reliability. That’s a key reason Fire & Ice is a Carrier dealer. 

This model is a single-stage, with a cooling SEER of 13 and an EER of 11. When it’s running, it has a sound level as low as 73 decibels. (According to the CDC, a normal conversation is about 60 decibels). It pairs best with Carrier’s Comfort line of furnaces, such as the Comfort 80 Gas Furnace (model #58SC).

Efficiency of the Carrier Comfort 13 Air Conditioner

Central air conditioners’ efficiency is measured by the seasonal energy efficiency ratio or SEER. It is defined as the cooling output during a typical cooling season, divided by the total electric energy input during the same period. The higher the unit’s SEER rating, the more energy-efficient it is.

The Carrier Comfort 13 has a SEER of 13. Replacing an 8 SEER AC, which will be the approximate rating of an air conditioner that’s 15 years old, with a 13 SEER will save you on your energy bill.

Its EER, which stands for Energy-Efficiency Ratio, is an energy performance rating for cooling devices. A 12 EER rating is an excellent energy-efficiency rating for an air conditioner. The Carrier Comfort is just a bit below that, with an EER of 11.

What Equipment Can I Pair with the Carrier Comfort 13?

Theoretically, you can pair Carrier products with a brand from another manufacturer. This goes for the air conditioner, the furnace, the air handler, and the thermostat. Your HVAC technician will be invaluable in helping you determine the best replacement for your air conditioner, and whether two different brands will be compatible. Usually, using different brands has no major negative consequences. The key is to properly size the unit and make sure the coils, blower, and wiring are compatible.

An add-on dehumidifier can help with humidity. In the case of high humidity – let’s say 70% relative humidity – the air is saturated with water. That means the evaporation of moisture from your skin will be more difficult. Running the AC along with a dehumidifier, such as the Aprilaire E100 whole-home dehumidifier, will lower the relative humidity dramatically and make the space feel cooler.

Read more: Is a Whole-Home Dehumidifier Right for Me?

What Is the Correct Size Air Conditioner for Your Home?

This single-stage air conditioner operates at 100% capacity all the time or is off entirely. When we size air conditioners in the central Ohio region, we size them for when it’s approximately 88 degrees outside, which is when they need to be at 100% capacity.

A lazy HVAC contractor will look at your existing unit and recommend the exact same capacity or size. That doesn’t take into account how well your current unit is working. If the air conditioner is oversized, it will do something called short cycling. It will run for a short time, satisfy the thermostat, then shut off.

This is not only hard on the AC machinery, but it doesn’t run enough to even out the cold and hot spots in your home. Also, it won’t do a sufficient job of reducing humidity.

If it’s undersized, you can guess what will happen. There’s no way for it to satisfy the thermostat. You’ll be miserable.

The best way to measure a house’s cooling need is through a Manual J load calculation that calculates the amount of heat your home gains and loses per hour naturally in a given season.  The calculation determines what size of HVAC equipment is needed when heating or cooling a home. Both the Air Conditioning Contractors of America and the US Department of Energy recommend a Manual J load calculation be performed for every HVAC job.

It takes into account the number of windows, how many people live there, insulation, the presence of an attic or basement, and more. HVAC contractors then use software and manual calculations to determine the HVAC load capacity of the building.

Who’s the Right Fit for the Carrier 24ABB3 Comfort 13 Air Conditioner?

Single-stage ACs are entry-level equipment, and they’re often the best choice for budget-conscious homeowners.

The best fit for a single-stage air conditioner is for customers who don’t experience a lot of temperature swings or hot and cold spots in the home. Their houses shouldn’t feel constantly muggy.

This would be the correct model for someone who’s thinking of moving soon. You want the cool but don’t want to spring for a high-efficiency unit.

The Comfort 13 will do the job, but won’t offer you the highest levels of cooling efficiency and comfort.  If you have rooms with inconsistent temperatures, a single-stage AC may not be the best choice.

Who’s Not a Right Fit for this Carrier Air Conditioner?

During our consultation with you, we always ask about comfort levels and indoor air quality. Is one room too hot? Two? Is the upstairs suffocating? Sometimes a simple adjustment, such as tweaking the vents’ dampers, will solve the problem.

But sometimes only a replacement will solve issues. If you’re looking for a model that will address multiple comfort issues, the Carrier 24ABB3 is likely not for you. A model with a variable-speed fan, such as Carrier’s Infinity series, the 24VNA9, is a good candidate. Its variable speed cooling can run at a lower speed, which will save on your energy bills and allow the hot and cold air in your home to mix better.

The Comfort 13’s noise level could be an issue if the unit is installed near a patio where you spend a fair amount of time. The Carrier Infinity Series 24VNA9 is sound-insulated and can operate as low as 56 decibels. That’s a substantial difference from the Comfort 13, which runs at 73. 

5 Ways to Extend the Life of the Carrier 24ABB3 Comfort 13 Air Conditioner

• Keep the furnace filter clean: A clogged air filter on your indoor unit will increase operating costs and shorten the life of the unit. Sometimes we see filters that don’t fit the opening, leaving a space where return air can go into the furnace unimpeded. That’s just as bad, if not worse, than a dirty filter.
• Do not block floor, wall, or ceiling vents: A blocked supply vent prevents the room from cooling sufficiently. A blocked return vent will reduce airflow back to the unit, which might reduce the system’s efficiency and lifespan.
• Do not cover or block the unit: The outdoor unit needs unrestricted airflow. Don’t place items on or next to it. Grass clippings, leaves, and other debris that accumulate on the sides or top of the unit will starve the AC. Try to maintain a 12” minimum clearance between the outdoor unit and tall grass, vines, and shrubs.
• Check condensate drain: Your air conditioner removes humidity from your home during the cooling season. When it’s running, water should trickle from the condensate drain of the indoor coil. Check this occasionally to be sure the drain system is not clogged. A new puddle on the floor might be a sign of a clog.
• Annual, routine maintenance will enhance your air conditioning system’s ability to operate economically and dependably.

What Is the Cost of a Carrier 24ABB3 Comfort 13 Air Conditioner?

The Carrier 24ABB3 Comfort 13 costs between $4600 and $6800. Our price includes labor, parts, installation, and modifications needed to be made to your duct system. The size of your home will be a major variable in terms of how much this air conditioner will cost.

And Finally, What Are the Next Steps in Columbus, Ohio?

By now, I hope you have some idea of what the Carrier Comfort 13 can and can’t do. It’s a no-frills, budget-friendly unit that, if it’s installed correctly and maintained annually, will serve for 15 years or more.

If you’re in the market for an air conditioner and live in Columbus or Central Ohio, we’d love to sit down with you, discuss your comfort concerns, and talk about solutions. Simply fill in your zip code in the graphic below to get started.

We hope to talk with you soon.