What Is an Acceptable SEER Rating for an Air Conditioner?

If you’re needing air conditioner installation in Manassas, you should also be looking at your new air conditioner’s SEER rating.

SEER means Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. In summary, it measures how effective your air conditioner is at transforming electricity into chilled air. A greater number indicates your air conditioner is more efficient, which is excellent for your electric costs.

However, there are a lot of differing options on the market for air conditioners. And a higher SEER rating usually is accompanied by a higher price tag. So, how can you determine which one is ideal for your house?

At Fire & Ice HVAC, we give you a free, no-pressure home comfort analysis. You can get one by contacting us at 703-595-4157. Our knowledgeable air conditioner installers will collaborate with you to help you find 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 affect your home’s comfort. And your utility expenses.

Does SEER Rating Even Matter?

In 2016, the federal government made new SEER criteria. New air conditioners are mandated at baseline 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 replaced or what its SEER ranking is, you can look at the sticker on the unit outside your residence. If you can’t see the sticker, you can reach us at 703-595-4157 for assistance.

If your air conditioner was replaced prior to that time, it’s presumably much less efficient. Air conditioning technology has swiftly evolved in the past couple of years, with huge developments in energy efficiency and smart home compatibility. Connecting your new air conditioner with a smart thermostat could help you save even more on electrical costs, as the thermostat can intuitively change your temperature settings when you’re gone.

If your current air conditioner has a SEER rating between 8 and 10, adding a 14-SEER system could save you around 30–50% on annual air conditioning expenses. Your savings are tied to your air conditioner size and your temp settings.

Is the highest SEER Rating the Best?

An air conditioner with a higher SEER rating will be more efficient at converting electricity for cooling. The best efficient ones, which can go as high as 26 SEER, include ENERGY STAR® endorsement. This designation means the air conditioner has achieved EPA rules for energy savings and environmental conservation.

While ENERGY STAR air conditioners are typically more costly, you’ll normally get the difference returned over time through smaller power costs. These air conditioners, which are typically rated 16 SEER and higher, use about 8% less power than other new units, according to ENERGY STAR.

One of the greatest differences between a 14 SEER and 16 SEER is variable-speed capacity. A variable-speed air conditioner can cool at varying speeds. This fine-tunes comfort for your home while keeping your energy expenses low. It can also keep temperatures and humidity more even, since it can run for longer without consuming a lot more power.

When getting a variable-speed air conditioner, you’ll need to ensure that your furnace or air handler is compatible. This is due to the fact your air conditioner depends on this equipment’s blower to send chilled air around your home. Furnaces only last for approximately 20 years, so if yours is around that age, we suggest getting furnace installation at the same time so you can get all the perks of your variable-speed air conditioner.

When you’re ready to replace your air conditioner, the cooling specialists at Fire & Ice HVAC are here to assist you. Call us at 703-595-4157 to book your free home comfort analysis now.