When it’s time to outfit your home with a new cooling system, employ air conditioner ratings in making your decision. These ratings show how efficiently an A/C turns electricity into cooling for the home, which will have a big impact on your household budget and comfort over the long term.
Of the various air conditioner ratings available, the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is the best one to use when shopping for a central A/C system. You get the SEER number by dividing the cooling output of an A/C or heat pump by the electrical energy that’s going into it. The lower the SEER number, the more your cooling system will cost to operate, and the longer it will take to cool your home. A/Cs and heat pumps with high SEER numbers tend to cost more upfront, but over time energy savings more than make up for that extra purchase cost. This is especially the case if you live in an area with long, hot summers.
The federal government provides guidance when it comes to air conditioner ratings. Since 2015, it has required HVAC manufacturers to make sure all of their split-system A/Cs are at least SEER 13 (and air-source heat pumps SEER 14). Other types of A/Cs, such as package systems and portable models, have different minimum requirements. In order for a split-system A/C or heat pump to earn the federal government’s Energy Star mark of energy-efficiency excellence, it must have a minimum SEER of 15.
That compares with SEER numbers of 6 and below as recently as 10-15 years ago. Upgrading to a new SEER 15 or 15 central A/C system allows you to save substantially on energy.
Often, the higher SEER number is achieved by employing advanced features such as a variable-speed blower or air handler motor and a multi-stage or modulating compressor. In your own home, you can eke out even more energy savings by sealing air leaks and using the right type and amount of insulation.
For help choosing the right cooling system for your Dayton-area home, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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