Air Conditioning SEER Ratings Explained

The SEER rating of your air conditioner is important. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient your air conditioner is and the less power it uses.

Air conditioning systems are a large investment, so everything in relation to them is important. New systems today come with a bunch of numbers, so many they can make your head spin. But a lot of those numbers are important to you as the homeowner and deserve your attention. I’d like to bring your attention to one number, in particular, the SEER rating of your air conditioner.

What is the SEER Rating and What Does it Mean?

The SEER rating measures your air conditioning system’s energy efficiency, the ratio of cooling capacity to the power input. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient your air conditioner is and the less power it uses. You’re getting more efficiency bang for your efficiency buck. That means more money saved on energy costs in the long run. All of that sounds like pretty important information to pay attention to, right?

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Heating and cooling units use more energy than any other system in the home. So when you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, the choice of the SEER level of a new unit can make a big difference in your wallet each month.

Save Money by Upgrading to a Unit with a Higher SEER Rating

Air conditioners manufactured after January 23, 2006, were required to reach a rating of 13 SEER. After January 1, 2015, all systems were required by the EPA to reach a minimum rating of 14 SEER. If your system is 10- to 15-years old, consider upgrading to a newer, more efficient model. Such an upgrade could save you up to $300 a year in energy costs.

Do Higher SEER Ratings Cost More?

Yes. SEER costs vary, but going from 14 to 15 SEER will cost about $1,000 more. Moving from 14 to 17 SEER will cost about $1800 more. And a 21 SEER system will cost about 40 percent more than a 14 SEER.

The SEER rating represents the potential efficiency of a unit under perfect conditions, but much of the system’s efficiency depends on three things:

1. Proper sizing of a unit for your home
2. Proper installation of a unit in your home
3. Proper evaluation of other factors such as leaking ductwork and windows in your home that will directly affect energy savings

You’ll need to shop for a unit that will give you the highest SEER rating your budget can afford up front.

Look for the Federal EnergyGuide Label to Find Your Unit’s SEER Rating

You can usually find your system’s SEER rating on the yellow-and-black EnergyGuide sticker on the outside of your unit. The federal EnergyGuide label prominently displays a unit’s SEER rating along with a comparison of that unit to other units. Online energy efficiency calculators help predict how much money you will save on energy costs with different SEER ratings.

Using Less and Saving More

The SEER rating is an important indicator of energy usage, but no matter how efficient a system is, you can still use less power. Follow these energy-saving tips.

And if you’d like to further identify ways to save energy, hire an energy audit inspector to do a home energy audit. This can help your system last longer, and help you spend less on electricity every month.

Ready to upgrade to a newer, more efficient system with a higher SEER rating? Contact Blue Frost Heating & Cooling at (630) 444-0860 for installation of a new HVAC system or maintenance of your current one today. Our knowledgeable technicians can calculate just what your home needs for efficient cooling and comfort.

Blue Frost Heating & Cooling

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Cooling, Plumbing, Heating

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416 E. Wilson Street, Batavia, IL, 60510

504 E. Main Street, St. Charles, IL, 60174

Call (630) 444-0860; for emergencies, call (630) 444-0860