What Are SEER Ratings & Why Do They Matter?
A comfortable living environment is important for your health and happiness. Because of this, it’s important that you don’t choose the first air conditioner in your price range. Air conditioners and heat pumps do the same thing, but their performance can be greatly different.
Price isn’t the only consideration, though it does impact every purchase. Efficiency is another primary consideration. If you cannot afford the bills your AC or heat pump creates each month, you’re not going to want to run it. This is where the SEER rating is extremely important.
Understanding a SEER Rating
SEER stands for “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.” It’s a measurement of how efficient an AC system is over a season. It’s calculated by taking the cooling output (BTUs) and dividing it by the amount of energy used. The higher the number, the more efficient the system.
In 2023, SEER ratings changed to SEER2 ratings. These newer ratings are more accurate as they consider external static pressure. SEER focused on peak efficiency and SEER2 factors in the cycling losses that occur in the real world. For that reason, you’re looking at SEER2 ratings now.
In the northern U.S. region, Air conditioners had to have a SEER rating of 14, and heat pumps required a SEER rating of 15. Once SEER2 went into effect, AC systems had to have a SEER2 rating of 13.4 or better, and heat pumps had to have 14.3 or better. Systems that didn’t meet these new requirements were no longer allowed to be sold or installed.
The Importance of Higher SEER2 Ratings
Higher SEER2 ratings lower your bills. A lower SEER rating increases your bills. To better understand this, suppose your older AC system is a 2.5-ton system with a 13 SEER rating. On average, people in the Chicago area are spending about $300 a year cooling their homes. Changing to a 16 SEER2 system lowers energy consumption to about $230 per year.
That’s just one benefit. If you’re using less energy, you’re reducing the impact on the environment. You lower your carbon footprint and lower the amount of emissions going into the atmosphere as electricity is generated or propane or natural gas is produced and delivered or piped to your home.
How Do You Pick One of the Best-Rated Systems With a High SEER2 Rating?
How do you choose the best-rated SEER2 AC or heat pump? Working with a professional HVAC installer is important. Sites like Consumer Reports have great advice as they put the items they review through rigorous testing.
No matter what you pick, look at the warranties and guarantees. Most air conditioners come with a 10-year warranty on the compressor, but that isn’t going to cover everything else or the cost of labor if something goes wrong.
Air Blue offers benefits that are additional to warranty coverage when you choose some of our highly-rated models.
- 2-year equipment test drive guarantee
- 3-year maintenance
- Lifetime installation guarantee
Additional protection like that is a game-changer. Ask companies what they provide as you narrow your options.
SEER2 Isn’t the Only Consideration
SEER2 ratings are important, but it’s not the only thing you should be considering when choosing a new AC or heat pump. You have to have a system with tonnage that’s appropriate for the size of your home.
We hear people ask why not get a system that’s bigger than needed. It will cool a smaller space faster, right? While that may occur, it also turns off shortly after turning on. Your house warms up quickly, so it has to turn back on, cool the rooms quickly, and turn back off. These short start-and-stop cycles wear out components faster than expected.
If you purchase a system that’s too small, it continually runs and can’t cool the rooms enough. It drives up energy bills. That’s why having the right tonnage is critical.
Newer technology makes it easier than ever to troubleshoot problems. You could have a technician look at your system’s information from a remote location and see if a trip to your home is necessary. It might be something that can be adjusted remotely, which eliminates the cost of a repair technician driving to your home. If you’re tired of paying a lot of money just to get a technician to come to your house, remote troubleshooting is a must-have.
Some central AC systems continually monitor the system’s operation. If something is off, you get an alert and can address the issue before it spirals into something bigger. You’ll have reminders when your air filter needs replacing. You can even have alerts when it’s time for yearly maintenance.
Additional features pair with high SEER2 ratings to enhance efficiency. A smart thermostat is programmable, and it learns your routines to make adjustments automatically. If you leave for work each day at 7:30 a.m. and walk back in the door at 6 p.m., your smart thermostat can learn these patterns and set the temperature higher as soon as you leave and have your home at your preferred temperature before you walk in the door.
Smart thermostats are also helpful if you’re going on vacation or business trip and will be out of town for several days or weeks. Set the thermostat higher for the time you’re away and have your home cool and comfortable when you return.
Your home’s insulation is also an important factor. If it’s been decades since your insulation was increased, you’re overdue. With tax credits for energy-efficient home improvement upgrades, insulation is one of the options, you’ll save money, even if you improve insulation as a DIY project.
Older roofing should also be replaced to ensure you’re not losing cool air through your roof. The more air loss you prevent, the more efficient your central AC or heat pump system is.
Finally, make your house as airtight as you can. If you have air coming in around doors and windows, use caulk and weatherstripping to stop these leaks. It might be time to upgrade doors and windows to newer double or triple-pane options. Again, tax credits are available on energy-efficient upgrades like these.
Ask an Expert in SEER2 Ratings for Guidance
Consult with HVAC professionals to get the best advice for choosing a system with a high SEER rating that’s also within your budget. While you might spend a little more now, the amount you save on electricity or gas is well worth it each month.
Air Blue Heating and Cooling can help you navigate your options, qualify for tax credits and rebates, and choose a central AC or heat pump system with a high SEER2 rating to ensure it is efficient and effective. Ask us about our current specials that ensure you save even more on a new system.
