What Is the Right SEER Rating for an Air Conditioner?

If you’re needing air conditioner installation in Mobile, you should also be considering your new air conditioner’s SEER rating.

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. In a nutshell, it gauges how productive your air conditioner is at converting electricity into chilled air. A greater number signifies your air conditioner is more efficient, which is great for your electrical bills.

However, there are a lot of different models out there for air conditioners. And a better SEER rating frequently involves a more expensive price. So, how can you find out which one is right for your residence?

At Farnell Heating & Air Conditioning Inc, we offer a free, no-pressure home comfort analysis. You can book one by contacting us at 251-471-2674. Our skilled air conditioner installers will work with you to help you pick the right air conditioner for your home. Plus, they’ll also provide you with a free, no-obligation estimate.

For the time being, let’s review SEER ratings and how they can impact your family’s comfort. And your electrical bills.

What Does the SEER Rating Really Matter?

In 2016, the federal government developed new SEER guidelines. New air conditioners are required to be at minimum 13 SEER in the northern United States and 14 SEER in the southeast and southwest. If you don’t know when you had your air conditioner installed or what its SEER number is, you can look at the sticker on the condenser outside your residence. If you can’t locate the sticker, you can get in touch with us at 251-471-2674 for assistance.

If your air conditioner was replaced prior to that time, it’s likely much less efficient. Air conditioning technology has quickly changed in the past few years, with major advancements in energy efficiency and smart home capacity. Connecting your new air conditioner with a smart thermostat could help you spend less on AC costs, because the thermostat can intuitively regulate your temperature settings when you’re gone.

If your current air conditioner has a SEER rating between 8 and 10, installing a 14-SEER system could save you close to 30–50% on annual cooling bills. Your savings depend on your air conditioner size and your temp settings.

Is the highest SEER Rating the Best?

An air conditioner with a greater SEER rating will be more efficient at transforming electricity for cooling. The best efficient systems, which can go as big as 26 SEER, include ENERGY STAR® certification. This endorsement shows the air conditioner has achieved EPA guidelines for energy savings and environmental conservation.

While ENERGY STAR air conditioners are often more expensive, you’ll generally get the difference back over time through lower electrical expenses. These air conditioners, which are usually rated 16 SEER and greater, use about 8% less energy than other new models, according to ENERGY STAR.

One of the greatest differences between a 14 SEER and 16 SEER is variable-speed capability. A variable-speed air conditioner can cool at a number of speeds. This fine-tunes comfort for your home while keeping your electrical bills reduced. It can also keep temperatures and humidity more even, since it can work for longer without requiring a lot more power.

When adding a variable-speed air conditioner, you’ll want to ensure that your furnace or air handler is compatible. This is because your air conditioner relies on this equipment’s blower to distribute cold air around your residence. Furnaces only last for around 20 years, so if yours is around that mark, we suggest getting furnace installation at the same time so you can receive all the advantages of your variable-speed air conditioner.

When you’re ready to replace your air conditioner, the cooling professionals at Farnell Heating & Air Conditioning Inc are available to help. Call us at 251-471-2674 to book your free home comfort analysis right away.