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With summer on its way, air-conditioner (A/C) efficiency is about to become very important. If you’re planning on a new A/C, or just curious about the energy efficiency of your current system, SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratings offer a simple and effective way to judge an air conditioner’s efficiency.
What are SEER ratings?
All air conditioners are assigned a number that reflects their energy efficiency, and this number is referred to as a SEER rating. A higher rating indicates better efficiency, which translates to reduced energy consumption and lower cooling costs. Highly rated air conditioners also produce fewer greenhouse gases, which is a significant benefit to the environment.
How are SEER ratings determined?
SEER ratings are arrived at by dividing the amount of cooling energy that an air conditioner produces by the amount of energy that the air conditioner uses. These ratings are determined in laboratories under specific climate conditions so that each air conditioner is subjected to the same requirements. This ensures that SEER ratings are universal and that you can use them to make accurate comparisons of the efficiency of different air conditioners made by different manufacturers.
What’s the best SEER rating?
When it comes to SEER ratings, the higher the better. All new air conditioners manufactured after 2006 are required to have a SEER rating of at least 13. This is 30 percent more efficient than the previous requirement, which was a rating of 10. More efficient air conditioners are available, of course, some of them with a SEER rating greater than 20. Older models might have ratings as low as 6.
To learn more about SEER ratings and ways to reduce air-conditioner operating costs this summer, contact Pipe Works Services We’ve been providing expert HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) service in the Chatham area for more than 10 years.
