Trane XL16 Vs. Trane XL19

Trane manufactures heat pumps and other related heating and cooling products. The XL 16 and XL 19 are two of the company's residential heat pump systems commonly referred to with an "i" after the particular model number. Heat pumps have the dual function of removing heat energy from outside air and sending the warmth into your home on cold days and reversing that process by removing heat from the air inside the home and sending it outside on warm days. The XL 19i is an older model of the current XL 16i heat pump. While each model has features common to the other, the XL 16i has some specific differences thanks to recent advancements in heat pump technology.

Common Features

The XL 16i and XL 19i feature corrosion-resistant base pans, weather-resistant fasteners and a protective top assembly to guard internal parts from the elements. These units have louvered panels on all sides for ventilation and a baked-on powder paint finish. In addition, each heat pump has a spin-type coil fin and a variable speed fan motor. The devices also have low resistance airflow and a sound insulated compressor unit to ensure quiet operation.

Compressors

A compressor is a pump that pressurizes refrigerant and moves it through the heat pump system. The XL 16i is designed with a single compressor that works in two stages for heating your home and two stages when in cooling mode. This feature allows the system to keep temperatures consistent throughout the house. The XL 19i heat pumps have two separate compressors that offer only two-stage operation in the cooling mode. The first stage uses the least amount of energy and is the stage used most often by the unit, making the cooling mode of the XL 19i very efficient.

SEER Ratings

The U.S. Department of Energy requires all manufacturers of devices that provide air conditioning functions, including heat pumps, to provide the units Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) number. Keep in mind, this number only refers to the cooling efficiency of a heat pump in terms of electricity used, not how well the unit actually will cool your home. A higher SEER number indicates a heat pump with greater cooling efficiency. The XL 16i heat pump has a SEER of 18 while the XL 19i offers a rating of 19.5.

Refrigerant

The XL 16i uses R-410A refrigerant, which, as of 2010, is the only type that may be used in newly manufactured heat pump systems. Previously, R-22, more commonly known as Freon, was used but is believed to harm the ozone and thus has been outlawed. Although R-22 is banned from use in new devices, it is still allowed as replacement refrigerant in heat pumps originally manufactured with Freon. Many XL 19i heat pumps made prior to 2010 may still use R-22, which may be costly to replace if you are recharging a system.

BTU Ratings

A heat pump's BTU (British Thermal Unit) per hour is a measurement of the device's capacity to cool a given space. This number is used in determining the correct heat pump capacity for your home size. The XL 19i model has four capacities, ranging from 30,000 to 60,000 BTUs. The XL 16i heat pumps have a smaller capacity 24,000 BTU unit available, along with sizes from 36,000 to 60,000 BTUs.

References

• Trane: How a heat pump system works (How it works) & (Products and Systems tab -- Heat Pumps -- XL 16i Specifics, Features, Models)
• Active Service: Ultra High Efficiency with XL 19i
• Central Air Conditioner and Refrigeration: Air Conditioner SEER -- Homeowners Must Know (What is SEER)
• Furnace Compare: Freon vs Puron -- Which should you use
• Furnace Compare: BTUH definition