Rheem 3 Ton 16 Seer Air Conditioner Review Major Features:
- 3 Ton (36,000 BTU)
- Split system 13AJM3601A/RHLL3821
- Combination provides 16 Seer
- Single speed scroll compressor
- Dual speed air handler
- R410a Freon
My experience:
I finally decided to replace my aging 17 year old Rheem Classic XII split system.
The condenser is 14.5 SEER but when paired with the RHLL air handler it is 16 SEER (confirmed in AHRI directory).
The job also consisted of new copper lines in a new location, a new wooden air handler stand, minor ductwork and thermostat.
Total came out to $3410.00 before federal tax rebate. The installation took all day.
The install was done at the beginning of winter so the weather has been very mild so far.
Initially I was only getting approx. 12 degrees drop out the vents - much lower than previous unit.
I accidently put the unit on fan only which I discovered ran the fan at half speed and also
a horrible groaning sound. I ended up calling the HVAC company to take a look at it.
It was determined that the fan motor had a bad bearing and also the system was undercharged.
They added freon and now the vent temperature drop is approx. 22 degrees. The GE X13 ECM fan motor will be replaced
next week. The new GE X-13 ECM fan motor was installed and now the noise is gone and so far no more issues.
The 10 KW heating strip is more than enough to heat the house even at 35 degrees outside.
How does the system and it's improved SEER translate to actual savings?
Actual usage for 2010
Actual usage for 2011
Notice that for August 2011 the average temperature was higher than 2010 and I still used much
less electricity than 2010. Even without fixing the overlap you can see I am saving an average of around 400kwh per month.
For me this equates to about $50 per month or $600 per year. The unit will pay for itself
in under 6 years - and that's not including the tax rebate.
Rheem 3 Ton 16 Seer Air Conditioner Review Pros:
- Outdoor condenser is much quieter than old unit
- Improved air flow
- Lower operating costs
- Defective air handler motor
Spot Rating: 
Too new to tell, but so far so good. I dropped one spot due to a defective fan motor.