Why Are SEER Ratings Important for HVAC Equipment?

Do you know the SEER ratings for your furnace or AC equipment? If you recently bought a new furnace or AC unit, this number was one of the specifications listed and should have been a consideration on which unit you purchased. Seasonal energy efficiency ratio or SEER is a rating on how well heating or cooling equipment can perform under optimal conditions. Here are some reasons why this rating is important and how it can impact your heating and cooling costs.

What is SEER?

Basically, the SEER number listed for your HVAC equipment is a calculation of the output of the unit versus the energy used during a set period. The higher the number, the more efficient the equipment. The newer units have SEER ratings of 13/14 or above, while units made decades ago started life at much lower efficiency.

Does SEER Change with Time?

The older your HVAC equipment gets, the less efficient it can become. The SEER rating is the optimal efficiency level. As components wear out, your HVAC system can perform less efficiently. You may notice your energy bills rising and believe it is just a change in energy costs. That may or may not be true; it could be that your HVAC system is no longer performing as efficiently.

Energy Savings with High SEER Equipment

Upgrading from a 10-14 SEER AC unit to a 16+ SEER can make a big difference in both energy efficiency and comfort. Your AC unit will have to work less to achieve the same level of climate control. While a SEER of 13 is the minimum, anything above 16 is considered high-efficiency.

If it is time to replace any of your HVAC equipment, make sure you talk to your HVAC pros about SEER ratings and what level is best for your home. It can help reduce energy costs and improve the overall performance of your HVAC system.

Posted on behalf of:
ClimateSmith, LLC
3870 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Suite 340-129
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 475-9555

What Is SEER?

If you have been shopping for a new air conditioning unit, you most likely have come across SEER ratings on different models. The SEER stands for the seasonal energy efficiency rating, which is a gauge of how much cooling output is given against the input of energy. SEER ratios are established by the  Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), which define what these ratings mean when buying an air conditioning unit. 

Analyzing SEER Ratios

When researching what air conditioning units will best fit your needs, the SEER ratio can have an important impact on your final purchasing decision. In a nutshell, the higher the rating, the better efficiency of the air conditioner. The rating is created by calculating BTUs, watts per hour and total hours used. To compute the rating, the BTUs and watts are multiplied by the hours used. These two numbers are used to create the ratio or rating. 

The SEER ratio is generally listed on a sticker attached to the air conditioning unit, or will be listed within the product specifications if you’re shopping online. You may also see units that list EER, which is the energy efficiency rating. The big difference between these two is that SEER is gauging the efficiency of the unit during an entire warm season, where EER is rating efficiency for certain temperature periods.

Not all air conditioning unit may display SEER; however, your local HVAC service professional can easily calculate this rating for you. SEER is not the only consideration when buying a new unit for efficiency, but is also important for choosing the right size and model for your specific home, which is why it is always best to consult with your air conditioning professional when purchasing a new unit.

Posted on behalf of James Smith, ClimateSmith LLC

Google