Air Conditioning

When it comes to purchasing a new air conditioner in Florida, or anywhere else for that matter, you need to consider a lot of factors because buying one requires a large sum of money and you wouldn’t really want your hard-earned dollars to go down the drain. One of these factors is the SEER rating.

You must have heard about this ‘technical’ term from either your HVAC technicians or some acquaintances and pondered over its meaning and relevance to your AC’s performance. Let’s educate you about what these really are and how they can be used the right way to make an informed decision while picking out an air conditioner for your household or workplace.

What Are SEER Ratings?

SEER is short for ‘Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio’ and is a ratio, an average, which measures the efficiency of an air conditioning system over a typical ‘cooling season’. This average is calculated by dividing the cooling output of an AC unit by the total energy (in Watt-Hours) consumed by that unit. The SEER of an air conditioner can typically be found on a yellow/white label attached to it.

SEER ratings today start from as low as 6 and go as high as 25. Most states require a minimum figure of 13, whereas, in Florida, this minimum value is set at 14 (as of 2015). The authorities have set these minimum figures to save overall energy consumption.

Highly SEER-rated AC units are known to greatly improve air quality, have better sound control systems, and last a long time.

How Does SEER Make a Difference?

The higher the number, the greater the efficiency.  The SEER rating essentially tells homeowners and other users how efficient their air conditioning system is going to be. The key factor here for homeowners is the energy costs they will save in the form of reduced utility bills. By being aware of their AC’s SEER rating, owners know about the real potential of their unit and what to expect from it. The expectation factor will also help them in gauging its performance and dealing with any issues related to underperformance.

Moreover, SEER ratings make it easier for buyers to opt for the air conditioner that is most suited to their personal needs. Comparing different air conditioners from various different brands will allow buyers to understand more clearly which system will be the more efficient one.

There’s a drawback of buying highly SEER-rated air conditioning systems in terms of cost of buying though. Obviously, better service and technology come at a price so higher prices for these systems are understandable. However, you don’t need to stress yourself out over this! Depending on the size of your home, you can buy a unit that will work well for you on a budget. Many leading air conditioner brands in Florida sell a broad range of AC units ranging between ‘low’ and ‘high’ SEER ratings to meet all kinds of budget requirements for everyone out there.

Something To Keep In Mind

There is no need to go out of your way and buy an AC unit with one of the ‘highest’ SEER ratings. The highest is not necessarily the best for everyone. If it is WAY out of your budget, then talk to your ac expert.

If you haven’t changed your AC system for quite some time now, there are great chances that your current AC unit is rated below 8 or 9. So, even the figure considered the ‘minimum’ today (14), will be quite a big jump and improvement for you!

Contact Buehler Air Conditioning & Plumbing technicians that can explain more about SEER ratings.  Buehler Air Conditioning & Plumbing techs are highly rated, quality-driven, and honestly committed to providing you with the best, consistent and reliable air conditioner repair and maintenance services throughout the year!

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