When you first start shopping for an air conditioning system for your home, one of the first terms that you’ll come across is SEER. This stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio and gives you key insight into the operating efficiency of that particular system.
Here, we’ll look at how SEER ratings affect your purchasing decision.
What’s SEER?
It can be easiest to think about an air conditioner’s SEER rating as the miles per gallon that your car gets. The more miles your car gets for every gallon it uses, the more efficient it is and the less money you have to spend on gas. The same holds true for a home air conditioning system when it comes to SEER ratings. You want to aim to get the highest SEER rating possible for your particular budget so that you can capitalize on long-term energy savings.
The SEER rating of a particular air conditioning system is determined by understanding the unit’s total cooling output for an entire season and the total amount of energy that it uses. To get the specific rating, you’ll divide the total cooling output by the total energy used. This translates to high SEER ratings for units that produce more cold air than the energy they use.
To better understand how a rating is calculated, let’s take a look at a specific example. Let’s say that you install an air conditioning system that produces 120,000 BTUs over a standard cooling season. Let’s also say that it uses 10,000 watt-hours over that same season. You would take the 120,000 and divide it by 10,000 to get a SEER rating of 12.
Transition to SEER2 Rating System
At the beginning of January 2023, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) upgraded all cooling systems from the traditional SEER rating system to a new SEER2 rating system. The reason behind the upgrade is that the traditional SEER testing procedures didn’t account for real-world conditions.
Homeowners could purchase a unit with a high SEER rating, but they’re very unlikely to experience that after it was actually installed in their home. The new SEER2 rating system uses more in-depth testing, with increased static pressure, to show homeowners how the system will likely perform once installed.
One of the biggest notable differences between traditional SEER ratings and the new SEER2 ratings is that the old ratings are higher than the new ones. For example, a central air conditioner with a SEER rating of 15 will likely have a SEER2 rating of 14.3. This is due to the more rigorous testing conditions that the newer SEER2 system provides.
Current SEER2 Minimum Standards
The DOE has interjected to set a minimum efficiency rating for all air conditioning systems that are sold and installed in the country. This is part of the government’s effort to reduce energy consumption over the coming years. The country is divided into three different regions, which are North, South, and Southwest. The latter two have the same minimum standard requirements. You can get a map of these regions at the DOE’s website.
Currently, the minimum SEER2 standard for homeowners in northern states is 13.4 for standard central air conditioners and 14.3 for heat pumps. In the southern warmer climate regions, the minimum SEER2 for all central air conditioners and heat pumps is 14.3. When it comes to the outdated SEER rating system, northern states need a minimum of 14, while southern states need a minimum of 15.
It’s crucial to note that cooling systems that are already installed in homes can still operate below these minimum efficiency standards. These standards are only in place for any new air conditioning systems that are manufactured or installed in the United States.
How SEER2 Ratings Impact Homeowners
As a homeowner, SEER2 ratings can impact your buying decision in a few different ways. The most obvious is with respect to efficiency ratings and your energy bills. Purchasing a unit with a higher SEER2 rating typically costs more upfront, but can provide you with long-term energy savings throughout the lifespan of the unit.
Units with a high SEER2 rating typically come with advanced features that can boost your indoor comfort. These include things like two-stage or variable-speed compressors that allow your system to operate at a percentage of its total cooling capacity. This is extremely helpful when it comes to decreasing the temperature in your home by a couple of degrees.
Instead of your system having to turn on and run at 100% capacity, it can turn on and run at, say, 50% where it uses less energy but still gets your home to your temperature target. This allows for better humidity control and indoor comfort for your family. It can be helpful knowing that you’re investing in a unit that’s reducing your family’s carbon footprint.
Choosing the Right System Rating for Your Home
When selecting the ideal SEER2 rating for your next air conditioning system, there are a couple of different factors you’ll want to consider. One of the most important is your budget. While systems with a high SEER2 rating can produce more energy savings than those with a moderate rating, the price of air conditioners goes up as the ratings go up. It’s best for each homeowner to look at their unique financial situation and determine the appropriate balance between upfront purchase price and high SEER2 ratings.
Another factor to consider is your local climate. If you live in a region that has extreme temperatures throughout the year or very long summer or winter seasons, it typically makes sense to invest more money upfront in a higher SEER2 system because you can enjoy more energy savings. However, if you live in a moderate climate, you’ll likely find that a moderately rated system is the best value for your money.
The state of your home and insulation will also play a vital role in your ultimate decision of which air conditioner to purchase. If you have an older home, it typically makes sense to invest in a higher-rated system. However, if you have a newly built home that is very well-insulated, there’s likely no need to invest in a highly rated air conditioning system, as it won’t be running as often.
One factor you definitely don’t want to forget about is the tax incentives that particular units can make you eligible to receive. Everyone can qualify for the federal tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 as long as they purchase an air conditioning system that meets the minimum SEER2 rating requirements.
Some state and local governments also offer incentives, as do local utility companies. All of these programs require a minimum SEER2 rating to qualify. It can be helpful to ensure your new unit meets those minimum standards so that you can recoup some of the upfront costs of purchasing it.
Reliable AC Installation Service
Christian Brothers Air Conditioning Plumbing Electrical offers reliable AC service for the Glendale, AZ community. We can help with all your AC replacement, maintenance, and repair needs. Just call our office today to schedule a consultation with one of our knowledgeable air conditioning technicians.
