What SEER means?

First, the basics. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This is the ratio of the cooling output of an air conditioner over a typical cooling season, divided by the energy it uses in Watt-Hours.

What is a good SEER rating for an air conditioner?

A good SEER rating is typically 14 or higher.

The average efficiency rating for a central air conditioner in operation today is 16 but high energy-efficient models can have ratings as high as 23.

How much more efficient is a 16 SEER vs 14 SEER?

A 16 SEER unit is about 13% more efficient than a 14 SEER. For every $100 you spend to cool your home with a 14 SEER, you could save $13 on your monthly bill by upgrading to the 16 SEER unit. But just like gas mileage, your ability to meet this maximum efficiency and savings depends on a lot of other factors.

How much more efficient is a 20 SEER vs 14 SEER?

In short, 20 SEER AC unit is 43% more energy-efficient than 14 SEER AC unit.

What does SEER mean on AC units?

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio—a rating system of the air conditioner's cooling capacity to power input. In technical terms, it's the ratio of the amount of cooling produced (in British Thermal Units, or BTUs) divided by the amount of electricity (in watts) used.

SEER Rating Definition - What is SEER?

Does a higher SEER cool better?

Most industry experts compare a SEER rating to a car's fuel efficiency. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the cooling system should be. Similarly, cars with higher miles-per-gallon ratios go further with less fuel.

How many SEER do I need?

Since January 2006, all residential air conditioners sold in the United States must have a SEER of at least 13. ENERGY STAR qualified central air conditioners must have a SEER of at least 14. By upgrading from SEER 9 to SEER 14, you can reduce your energy consumption by more than 35%.

Is 21 SEER worth the money?

Even when you factor in energy rebates, you still don't recoup the cost. So, between a 16 SEER and 21 SEER unit, it's not really worth it in the long run to go with the higher SEER (if we're just looking at cost). However, money isn't the only factor to consider.

Is 18 SEER worth the extra money?

Having a higher SEER rating will save you money on energy efficiency. An 18 SEER is around 12.5% more efficient than a 16 SEER. That means for every $100 you spend to cool your home with a 18 SEER, you'll save about $12.50 more than the 16 SEER.

Is 17 SEER worth the money?

Higher SEER often means better comfort

A higher efficiency 17-SEER air conditioner usually comes with 2-stage cooling and a variable-speed fan. These features not only improve the energy efficiency of the unit, but provide better cooling than the 14-SEER AC can provide.

What is the most common SEER rating?

Most modern air conditioners have a SEER that ranges from 13 to 21. ENERGY STAR qualified central air conditioners must have a SEER rating of 14.5 to qualify.

How much does it cost to replace a 2.5 ton AC unit?

For a 1,300 to 1,600 square ft home you would want a 2.5 ton AC unit and the average installation cost would be around $3,570 with the unit alone costing around $1,285. Read more about these cost factors below.

What size air conditioner do I need for a 1300 sq ft house?

The 1,300-Square-Foot Answer

When looking for the quick answer to how much air-conditioning power you'll need to adequately cool a 1,300-square-foot space, the answer is 23,000 BTUs per hour of air conditioning power. This is the base capacity needed for a 1,200- to 1,400-square-foot house.

Which air conditioner is most energy efficient?

A split system air conditioning provides the most energy efficient cooling solution and can be floor or wall mounted. It's very quiet as the compressor is placed outside up to 15 metres away. Multiple split systems give you the ability to run multiple units using one compressor.

What SEER rating do I need for tax credit?

You can qualify for tax credit up to $300. Split systems must have a minimum of 16 SEER and 13 EER whereas packaged systems must meet or exceed 14 SEER and 12 EER. A split system is split into two units: one that's inside and one that's outside.

How many seers is a 5 ton AC?

For this example, we will use a 5 ton, 15 seer unit.

Which is better carrier or Trane?

In the comparison of Carrier Vs. Trane air conditioner in terms of energy efficiency, Trane finds its superiority over the latter one. All the models belonging to the three tiers produced by Trane are more energy-efficient than that in Carrier.

Does SEER rating apply to heating?

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and applies only to cooling. (It's not a great measure of efficiency, but that's the topic of another article.) HSPF stands for Heating Season Performance Factor and is basically the SEER rating for winter.

How much will a 16 SEER save me?

On paper, you already know a 16-SEER AC is more energy efficient than a 13-SEER unit. But how much will a 16-SEER save you over time? The truth is, in our area, not much. According to one SEER savings calculator, a 16-SEER AC will only save around $250 over a 15-year period compared to a similarly-sized, 13-SEER unit.

What SEER rating is considered high efficiency?

Efficiency is measured by SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. When comparing air conditioners, the SEER rating will tell you how efficient one is compared to another. Higher SEER numbers indicate higher efficiency. The minimum SEER rating is 13, with a rating above 16 considered high efficiency.

How do I choose a SEER?

Do the math. Take the BTUs divided by the SEER and then divide that by 1000 to see how many Kwh consumed each hour. Then multiply that by hours of operation annually and finally by cost of Kwh for that particular unit. Below we have done the math for a 13SEER AC Unit versus a 16SEER Unit.

What size AC do I need for 2000 square feet?

If your home is 2000 square feet, you can calculate your HVAC needs the same as you would for a 1600 square foot home. Assuming one ton of cooling capacity can cool 400 square feet of your home, you'll need about 5.0 tons of air conditioning capacity. Multiply this by 12,000 BTUs, and you'll get 60,000 BTUs.

Is a higher SEER quieter?

Air conditioning units with higher SEER ratings are often much quieter than those with lower SEER ratings. That's especially true for units with variable-speed compressors because they have quieter fans and don't always operate at full capacity.