What is the SEER rating on the Energy Guide?

Many homeowners know about the Energy Guide but not all of them know what the SEER rating is. The SEER is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, which measures the effectiveness of your central air conditioner. The Energy Guide gives consumers ample information about how much energy is consumed by their appliances, as well as the efficiency and maintenance cost of appliances. By using the SEER rating, you can make an informed decision prior to buying a new air conditioner and get the best system for your money.

What is a good SEER rating?

The SEER rating utilizes how effective a cooling system is over an entire season, not just that it maintains a certain temperature. If your air conditioner has a higher SEER rating then that means you have a more efficient type of cooling system. In other words, the higher the SEER rating the less electricity is used by the system to operate and get the job done. As of 2006, the minimum SEER rating for air conditioners and air-source heat pump systems was set to 13 SEER. The range of the SEER rating for any system is from 13 to 24 SEER, which the higher the SEER rating the better. This range is wide but anything above a 16 is considered high efficiency to the SEER standards.

Benefits of a higher SEER rating:

There are many benefits to buying a more efficient air conditioner system that has a higher SEER rating. These benefits include:

• Save Money in Utility Bills – By using less energy, you will be saving money on your energy bill. Sometimes switching from a low SEER unit to a higher SEER unit can even save you close to 50% on your monthly energy bill. Those are HUGE savings!
• Government Incentives and Manufacturers’ Rebates – Many consumers can save money just by looking into the incentives through the government and the rebates offered by manufacturers. Sometimes these savings even lower the cost of a higher efficiency system to rougher equal that of a standard unit.
• Environmentally Friendly – Being environmentally friendly is a huge perk to investing in a higher SEER rating system. The high the SEER rating, the fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Since less fossil fuels are being burned, you can have a clear conscious that you are not leaving a huge of a carbon foot print on the Earth.
• Lower the Humidity in your home – Systems that have higher efficiency ratings not only provide you with stable temperatures, but they also removed moisture from the air. Less moisture equals less mold and other airborne issues.

If you are searching for the best deal for both your wallet and your future, then check for the SEER rating on your appliances. The SEER rating on the Energy Guide can provide you with information and options when it comes to investing in a new air conditioning system!

For friendly and professional advice on the sales, service and maintenance of HVAC equipment; contact Parkers Heating and Cooling today or call us at 615-355-9137.