What Is an Acceptable SEER Rating for an Air Conditioner?

If you’re thinking over air conditioner installation in Laurel, you should also be looking at your new air conditioner’s SEER rating.

SEER is short for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. In short, it examines how effective your air conditioner is at changing electricity into cold air. A bigger number signifies your air conditioner is more efficient, which is good for your electrical costs.

However, there are many differing solutions on the market for air conditioners. And a better SEER number usually is accompanied by a higher price tag. So, how can you find out which one is best for your residence?

At H&C Heating and Cooling, we give you a free, no-pressure home comfort analysis. You can request one by contacting us at 301-960-3247. Our experienced air conditioner installers will collaborate with you to help you find the right air conditioner for your budget. Plus, they’ll also give you a free, no-obligation estimate.

In the meantime, let’s go over SEER ratings and how they can affect your home’s comfort. And your electric expenses.

Does SEER Rating Really Matter?

In 2016, the federal government made new SEER guidelines. New air conditioners are required to be at baseline 13 SEER in the northernmost United States and 14 SEER in the southeast and southwest. If you don’t know when you had your air conditioner installed or what its SEER number is, you can check the sticker on the condenser outside your residence. If you can’t find the sticker, you can get in touch with us at 301-960-3247 for help.

If your air conditioner was installed prior to that time, it’s presumably much less efficient. Air conditioning technology has swiftly evolved in the past couple of years, with major advancements in energy efficiency and smart home capability. Connecting your new air conditioner with a smart thermostat could help you save even more on cooling costs, because the thermostat can intuitively manage your temperature settings when you’re out.

If your current air conditioner has a SEER rating between 8 and 10, installing a 14-SEER system could save you around 30–50% on annual utility bills. Your savings are contingent upon your air conditioner size and your temperature settings.

Is the Higher the SEER the Better?

An air conditioner with a greater SEER rating will be more efficient at using electricity for cooling. The best efficient models, which can go as great as 26 SEER, carry ENERGY STAR® certification. This designation signifies the air conditioner meets EPA requirements for energy savings and environmental conservation.

While ENERGY STAR air conditioners are typically more costly, you’ll usually get the difference returned over time through smaller power expenses. These air conditioners, which are usually rated 16 SEER and higher, need about 8% less energy than other new models, according to ENERGY STAR.

One of the greatest differences between a 14 SEER and 16 SEER is variable-speed capacity. A variable-speed air conditioner can work at varying speeds. This fine-tunes comfort for your home while keeping your energy costs down. It can also keep temperatures and humidity more even, since it can operate for longer without consuming a lot more energy.

When buying a variable-speed air conditioner, you’ll need to make sure that your furnace or air handler is compatible. This is since your air conditioner depends on this unit’s blower to send cool air throughout your house. Furnaces only work for about 20 years, so if yours is getting old, we recommend furnace installation at the same time so you can get all the advantages of your variable-speed air conditioner.

When you’re ready to replace your air conditioner, the cooling specialists at H&C Heating and Cooling are available to help. Call us at 301-960-3247 to set your free home comfort analysis today.