If you’re in the market for a new home cooling system, then you’ve likely run across the SEER rating. However, do you really understand what that number means? Understanding SEER ratings is critical to choosing the best cooling system for your home. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is a SEER Rating?
SEER is an acronym that stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. Each cooling system is given a specific serial rating based on its effectiveness over a single season. More specifically, it measures the ratio between the cooling output of the system over the total energy it uses. It’s important to note that a SEER rating represents a single unit’s maximum efficiency level. When used in a residential application, the cooling system is unlikely to maintain its maximum efficiency level at all times.
Why Are SEER Ratings Important?
SEER ratings make it easy to actively compare the operation of different cooling systems. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficiently that unit will convert energy into cool air for your home. Think of a SEER rating as similar to the miles per gallon a vehicle gets. You want to get a vehicle that gets the highest miles per gallon to ensure the most efficient operation for a cheaper price. The same is true for a cooling system’s SEER rating.
Locating a Unit’s SEER Rating
When considering purchasing a new HVAC system, you will need to compare its performance with the performance of your existing system. This can give you a good idea of the energy savings you can reap from investing in a new system. Knowing how to locate the SEER rating for your unit will allow you to uncover this information.
The SEER rating is typically displayed prominently on the black and yellow EnergyGuide sticker that gets attached to the unit. In many cases, the HVAC manufacturer will include the SEER rating in the model number. For example, when a model number is 20x, it will typically represent a SEER rating of 20. Furthermore, you can easily locate the model and serial number for your unit and search its SEER rating online.
New Energy Standards
It comes as no surprise that units 10 to 15 years old have lower SEER ratings than units available today. To ensure we’re constantly moving towards more energy-efficient operations, the U.S. Department of Energy has established minimum SEER standards that all HVAC manufacturers must follow. These new standards require that all cooling systems have a minimum SEER rating of 14.
Choosing a Cooling System Based on Its SEER Rating
Modern HVAC systems offer various options when it comes to SEER ratings. In general, the higher the SEER rating that a unit has, the more expensive it will be to purchase. However, higher SEER ratings also translate to more efficient systems with lower operating costs.
Most residential HVAC systems will have a SEER rating between 14 and 30. A unit with a SEER rating over 16 is typically considered a high-efficiency system. Even an HVAC system on the lower end of 14 will still be much more efficient than a decades-old cooling system with a SEER rating of 8 to 10. In fact, you can save an estimated 20 and 40% on your energy bills by simply upgrading a decade-old cooling system to a new cooling system with a minimum 14 SEER rating.
The Many Benefits of High SEER Ratings
The most obvious benefit of investing in a cooling system with a high SEER rating is that it provides more energy efficiency. You’ll have lower monthly utility bills and be doing your part to reduce your overall carbon footprint. Furthermore, these higher-rated units will enhance your comfort by not only keeping up with your demands but also removing more humidity from the air.
Reliable AC Service
Ultimate Homes & Cooling provides reliable cooling service for the whole Cape Coral, FL community. Our technicians are happy to assist with all your heating, electrical, ductless mini-split, pool heater, pool pump, air purifier, humidifier, and indoor air quality needs. We can help you find the best new high-efficiency HVAC system for your needs, too. Simply give our staff a call today to schedule a consultation with one of our highly experienced technicians.
