Shopping for a novel HVAC arrangement tin experience similar a daunting task. After all, how does the average someone know what makes a goodness system? One ingredient that you lot tin hold back at is the unit’s SEER rating. In this post, we’ll embrace the basics of what a SEER rating is, what makes for a goodness rating, in addition to what to hold back out for equally you lot shop. Keep reading to larn more.
A SEER rating is a mensurate of your HVAC unit’s maximum possible efficiency. Image: Shutterstock/ Konstantin L.
What is a SEER rating?
Put simply, a SEER rating is a measure of how efficiently your heating in addition to cooling arrangement works. It stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Though, sometimes, it’s besides written out equally a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating.
However you lot phrase it, a SEER rating is the ratio of an HVAC unit’s cooling output over an entire cooling season, divided past times the sum of publish energy it uses inwards Watt-Hours. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 system’s cooling output ingredient is constitute past times using a consistent indoor temperature compared to the publish energy that it takes to hold that at a diversity of outdoor temperatures. These temperatures hit from threescore degrees upward to over 100 degrees.
What’s a good SEER Rating?
Generally speaking, the higher the SEER rating, the amend the unit’s efficiency. These days, novel units must own got a rating of at to the lowest degree xiii in addition to close own got a rating betwixt xiii in addition to 21, though unopen to models may acquire fifty-fifty higher. Older in addition to lower-end models, on the other hand, tin own got a lower rating. For reference, close builder-grade HVAC units own got a SEER rating of 8 or 9.
However, travel along inwards heed that the rating is a mensurate of the HVAC unit’s maximum possible efficiency. It may non ever part at that level. For the sake of comparison, SEER ratings part a lot similar a car’s gas mileage. Just because a auto gets upward to 35 miles per gallon on the highway, doesn’t hateful it ever functions at that level. In city traffic, your MPG is saltation to live on much lower.
Minimum SEER ratings past times region
In an testify to ensure the comfort in addition to security of citizens, the US Department of Energy (DOE) placed minimum energy efficiency standards on a diversity of solid appliances, including HVAC systems. Where they’re are concerned, these standards accept the shape of a minimum SEER rating. However, these ratings aren’t one-size-fits-all. Since weather condition patterns differ across the country, the DOE varied the minimum rating past times region.
They separate the province into 3 separate regions: Southwest, Southeast, in addition to North. The regions are broken upward equally follows:
- Southwest: Arizona, California, Nevada, in addition to New Mexico
- Southeast: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, the District of Columbia, in addition to the U.S. territories
- North: The residuum of the United States
The minimum SEER rating requirements for each part are:
- Southwest: 14
- Southeast: 14
- North: 13
The bottom line
As you lot shop for a novel HVAC unit, you’ll reckon that at that spot are a hit of SEER ratings available. Keep the next factors inwards heed equally you lot focus inwards on which unit of measurement may ultimately piece of job best inwards your home:
- Make certain the unit of measurement meets the minimum requirements: The minimum SEER rating for your part is the absolute lowest rating that companies are allowed to sell you, fifty-fifty if you lot inquire them for lower. Keep your region’s minimum inwards heed equally you lot shop. This volition assistance you lot purchase a arrangement well-suited for the climate.
- Remember that your arrangement won’t ever piece of job upward to its SEER rating: Like miles per gallon inwards a car, the SEER rating measures the unit’s maximum possible efficiency. However, retrieve that your arrangement volition exclusively live on able to accomplish those standards inwards near-ideal conditions. Be certain to select an energy-efficient arrangement that you’re confident volition travel along you lot comfortable at all times.
Still own got questions? Talk to an expert
Think you lot demand to a greater extent than assistance finding the correct SEER rating? Call an HVAC professional to assistance you lot evaluate your home’s needs in addition to to honor the correct unit of measurement for your home.
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