What Does the SEER Rating on Your AC Unit Mean?
If your air conditioning equipment has seen better days and is not cooling like it used to, you should have it looked at. In the event that an HVAC professional tells you that you need a new unit, there are a few factors to consider. Other than the obvious concern of the up-front price, the most important consideration will be a new units SEER rating.
Understanding the SEER Rating on Your A/C Unit
SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency rating, and it is the measure used to determine the efficiency with which home and commercial cooling equipment do their job. The higher the rating number the more cooling output from your air conditioning per watt of energy used. In this sense it is similar to the miles per gallon measurement for a car.
What the SEER Rating Means for Your Energy Consumption
New cooling equipment such as air conditioners and heat pumps must have a minimum SEER rating of 13.0, and as of January of this year, the U.S. Government requires that any installed split system central air conditioners in the Southeast portion of the country be a minimum of 14.0. Existing equipment that has been in place for many years may have a lower rating. Not surprisingly, cooling equipment with a higher rating will save you money on your electric bill over time. As an example, if you spend $100 cooling your house with an air conditioner that has a rating of 8.0 you would only spend $42 if it had a 14.0 rating. That difference adds up over time.
The Importance of this Rating When Considering a New HVAC Unit?
The warmer the region of the U.S. you live in the more important the SEER rating of any new cooling equipment you are looking at having installed. In addition to the savings on your electric bill from greater efficiency, some utility companies also offer rebates to homeowners who install cooling and heating systems with a high efficiency rating. Concern for the environment is behind most rebates as higher efficiency systems have a smaller carbon emission footprint.
The trade off, of course, is that more efficient units cost more, so you need to compare the costs and benefits in terms of the up front cost of the unit and what savings you will see over the amount of time you plan to be in that home.
Go green with energy and money saving HVAC units. Call the experts of Skovron Mechanical Services LLC. at (603) 674-9885 to make your Manchester area home more efficient today.
