When it comes time to install a new air conditioner in your home, you want to make sure that you get the most out of the unit you choose. Of all the things you have to consider in a new air conditioner, the unit’s SEER rating is one of the most important. Today we’re going to explain what a SEER rating is and how you can use it to choose a new AC for your home!
SEER is an abbreviation for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is a number that is assigned to every air conditioner that describes how energy efficient the unit is. If you were to compare your AC to a car, a SEER rating would be like a car’s miles per gallon (MPG) rating. The higher the SEER rating of a given air conditioner, the more energy efficient that unit is.
How are SEER ratings calculated?
A SEER rating is a measurement of how efficiently your AC uses the energy that it consumes. It is calculated by dividing the cooling output of your air conditioner during a typical cooling season (measured in Btu’s) by the amount of energy it consumes over that same period (measured in watt-hours).
What is a good Air Conditioner SEER rating for an air conditioner?
The current minimum SEER rating for newly-manufactured air conditioners is 13. This standard went into effect in January of 2006, replacing the previous standard of 10. If your air conditioner has a SEER rating below 13, it would be considered a low-efficiency unit.
In order to qualify for the Energy Star rating, an AC must have a SEER rating of at least 14. However, cooling systems are available with SEER ratings as high as 21.
How to use an Air Conditioner SEER rating to choose a new air conditioner
In general, air conditioners with higher SEER ratings are more expensive than units with lower SEER ratings. However, it’s less expensive to operate an AC with a higher SEER rating, which will save you money over the lifetime of the unit.
When you’re choosing a new air conditioner, try to pick one with the highest SEER rating that fits into your budget. This will help keep your energy bills low, which will pay off the higher up-front costs of the unit over time.
If you have any questions about an air conditioner’s SEER rating, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Andes Air Conditioning, your Family HVAC Expert.
