Importance Of Air Conditioner Ratings: What We Should Consider When Choosing A New AC

You may compare models to find the one that is the greatest fit for your house by using air conditioner ratings, which are used to define the overall energy efficiency of a unit. The energy efficiency of the new air conditioner you choose, or how much electricity it uses to keep you comfortable all summer long, will directly affect the monthly operating costs.

The best strategy to choose an air conditioner isn’t based solely on sticker price because not all air conditioners are made equally. Consideration should also be given to the unit’s long-term ongoing running costs. Your monthly costs to maintain comfort in your house will decrease as your air conditioner’s energy efficiency increases. If a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is not very energy efficient, it will require more electricity to operate, costing you more money. One useful tool for understanding what you’re buying before you buy is the federal government’s requirement that every new air conditioner have ratings.

SEER Ratings

The primary efficiency statistic used by the HVAC industry to grade central air conditioners is SEER, which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The volume of cooling output during a typical cool season is divided by the total amount of electric energy intake at the same time to determine SEER ratings. Lower operating expenses are typically associated with energy-efficient air conditioners, whose SEER ratings are higher. You may reduce your energy costs and save money by selecting a product with a higher SEER rating. The energy efficiency of your home won’t be increased by combining a high SEER-rated, super efficient air conditioner with an outdated furnace, though. Both units must be capable of operating effectively for the unit to operate at its peak performance.

This rating is printed on the eye-catching EnergyGuide sticker that the Department of Energy attaches to each new unit. SEER is frequently included in the written specs provided by the manufacturer. The label’s objective is to make it simple for consumers to compare the variations in energy use among comparable products.

A Good SEER Rating

Is it worthwhile to spend more money for a higher SEER rating, as many homeowners inquire? Your choice of ratings will determine the solution. Models with a 17 SEER, like the XC16, and a 14 SEER, like the 14ACX, will differ in characteristics that affect how efficient they are, depending on the comparison. The higher rated air conditioner will have a multi-stage scroll compressor and be compatible with humidity-controlling technology as opposed to the 14 SEER air conditioner’s single-stage scroll compressor. Although there may seem to be a lot of HVAC technical lingo here, we’ll summarize it for homeowners. As a result, you’ll probably feel more comfortable with a higher SEER rating since it provides humidity control, and it will also be more effective because multi-stage cooling prevents frequent system startup that is necessary with single-stage units.

We advise using an energy savings calculator, which enables you to evaluate various SEER ratings and determine how much you could save over the course of five, ten, and fifteen years by switching from a less sophisticated model to one with a higher SEER rating. We place these SEER comparisons next to our top product choices to make it simpler for our customers. If you have any additional queries, a knowledgeable HVAC professional may help you strike a balance between an inexpensive price and a SEER efficiency rating that is appropriate for your house and the climate where you live.

How Is SEER Different From EER Ratings?

Although SEER ratings have received a lot of attention, we also want to include EER ratings since they occasionally appear on EnergyGuide labels. Before the SEER measurement, energy efficiency was determined using the Energy Efficient Rating, or EER. The main difference between the two ratings is that the SEER rating considers seasonality factors while the EER rating is a more constant measure. A word of warning: It is IMPOSSIBLE to compare these two ratings because it would be illogical. These measures are quite dissimilar from one another and should only be used to contrast other air conditioners with comparable SEER or EER ratings.

EER ratings are also frequently used to describe smaller cooling systems, such as a mounted air conditioner. Although a homeowner should normally use the SEER rating when choosing a new air conditioning system, your HVAC professional may utilize the EER number to measure an air conditioner’s efficiency.

Sound

Ratings for air conditioners take into account noise concerns. Select a unit with respectable low-noise ratings to keep the quietest possible surroundings around your house and community. These are stated as a decibel (db) rating of less than 80 or an SRN (Sound Rating Value) between 75 and 80. The lower the number for any of these measurements, the better the sound rating, and the quieter air conditioner you’ll have.

Contact your most reliable HVAC specialist for more sensible information on how to use air conditioner ratings to find the greatest deal and most efficient A/C. They can inform you of energy and comfort-related difficulties (specific to HVAC systems).