What’s SEER score? | HVAC Options

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SEER stands for Seasonal Power Effectivity Ratio. It measures the power effectivity of your air conditioner. 

With new AC effectivity requirements on the horizon in 2023, SEER could also be in your thoughts should you’re buying a brand new air conditioner or constructing a brand new residence.

What does SEER score imply? 

The U.S. Division of Power joined forces with the Air Conditioning, Heating, & Refrigeration Institute to create the SEER measurement. The trade group contains greater than 300 air conditioner producers throughout North America. 

The SEER score quantifies general AC system effectivity on a seasonal foundation. It helps shoppers examine power effectivity when selecting a brand new air conditioner. 

How is SEER score calculated?

To calculate an AC’s SEER score, divide its cooling output by its electrical power enter throughout a typical cooling season. The upper the quantity, the extra environment friendly the AC. 

For instance, if an AC places out 5,000,000 BTU of cooling seasonally whereas utilizing 300,000 kW of electrical energy, its SEER is 16.6 (5,000,000/300,000 = 16.6).

SEER testing happens in a laboratory setting that simulates indoor and out of doors environments. Typically, the out of doors temperature is simply two levels increased than the indoor temperature within the simulation.

The laboratory controls the situations for constant and correct outcomes. Nonetheless, they don’t essentially mirror actuality. For instance, your AC could eat extra electrical energy in your house in comparison with the laboratory.

SEER vs. EER

One distinction to be made is SEER vs. EER. The “S” refers back to the common working time and power effectivity over your complete summer season season.

Comparatively, EER is just a snapshot of the effectivity of a system at one second in time primarily based on particular situations. 

What is an efficient SEER score?

Within the northern United States, new HVAC techniques should have a minimal SEER of 13. Within the South and Southwest, 14 is the minimal SEER. Come 2023, these minimums will change to 14 and 15, respectively.

Older ACs have decrease SEER scores normally. For instance, air conditioners from the Nineteen Nineties are typically rated 8-11.

SEER scores of 13-15 are thought of good, 16-19 are higher, and 20-24 is finest.

SEER chart

The best-SEER central AC at the moment obtainable is rated 26. That is much more energy-efficient than most fashions available on the market as we speak. Service, Bryant, and Lennox make 26-SEER air conditioners. 

Mini splits are usually extra power environment friendly than even one of the best central ACs. Service makes the highest-SEER mini break up with a score of 42. Once more, this score is spectacular however atypical. 

Is a excessive SEER price it?

The upper the SEER, the extra environment friendly the air conditioner. That is excellent news for the atmosphere and your financial savings account. Nonetheless, higher-SEER ACs are normally costlier upfront. 

Greater-SEER air conditioners have a number of notable benefits:

The rebates and price financial savings you expertise with a higher-SEER AC cancel out the upper worth in just some years. Buying the highest-SEER system you’ll be able to afford is a brilliant funding if it’s time to switch your air conditioner. 

In case you’re interested by studying extra, try this text, the place we study the professionals and cons of buying a 14-SEER vs. 16-SEER air conditioner. 

What’s SEER 2?

The SEER 2 customary will change the SEER score in 2023. The primary distinction is the testing situations.

SEER 2 requires a better exterior static strain throughout testing. This variation makes the laboratory situations extra like a real-world ducted AC system.

The SEER system stays the identical with SEER 2. Nonetheless, most techniques will doubtless obtain a barely decrease score within the new testing situations. For instance, an air conditioner rated 16 with SEER could earn a 15.4 with SEER 2.

Beginning in 2023, all air conditioners on the market should checklist their SEER 2 score.

The underside line on SEER

We consider it’s sensible to splurge on the highest-SEER system inside your funds. Not solely will you lower your expenses in the long term, however you’ll additionally positively affect the atmosphere.

In case your AC is at the moment operating positive, there’s no have to dump it and purchase a higher-SEER system. However when the time comes for a substitute, go huge on SEER.