It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the standards and ratings of HVAC products proudly display on their labels. Knowing what these numbers mean can be the difference between choosing the right heating and air conditioning unit for your home or wasting money on a system that doesn’t quite do what you want it to do.
We’ll take a look at a few rating systems the Department of Energy uses to determine efficiency. In particular, we will focus on the SEER rating, or the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and what it means to you.
The SEER Rating
There are many standards used to measure the cooling capacity of air conditioning units. The ratio of a system’s capacity and the power it consumes to reach that capacity is known as its SEER rating. In general, think of the SEER rating as a general indicator of a unit’s efficiency. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy-efficient the machine is.
Since 2015, the Department of Energy has set the floor value or the minimum SEER rating for all air conditioning units to be 14. To give you an idea of what this means, older models or models that are more than 10 years old typically hold a SEER rating of 9 or lower.
SEER Ratings and Cost
SEER ratings can be a factor in the cost of air conditioning systems. As an example, a unit with a rating of 15 costs about $1,000 more than ones with the minimum 14 rating. Choosing a system with a 21-rating typically costs 40% more than the standard minimum.
To give you an idea of how a 14-SEER unit performs, the most common rating you’ll find on most products is 21. In fact, your AC right now most likely carries this rating. Higher efficiency systems usually have ratings of 30 or higher.
How SEER Is Used
SEER can be used to help determine how much electricity your system will use. You can calculate your daily, monthly, and even annual consumptions using your AC’s power input and SEER rating.
High-Performance Air Conditioning From ACS Air Conditioning Systems
To learn more about SEER ratings and how it reflects your system’s performance, call ACS Air Conditioning Systems today at (925) 676-2103. Our experts will be more than happy to answer your questions. Services are available in Concord, CA, and nearby areas.
