How Does SEER Affect Air Conditioner Performance?

July 27, 2015

After time spent outdoors in the hot summer sun, many enjoy coming inside their cool, air conditioned home. Air conditioners are essential for many homeowners during the summer season and can create bothersome conditions if not properly performing. Air conditioning performance can rely on many factors, including poor airflow, duct leaks, lack of maintenance, and SEER rating. SEER, meaning Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, is an efficiency rating used by the Federal Department of Energy. This rating indicates the relative amount of energy needed to operate your cooling unit over the cooling season. SEER affects the performance of your air conditioner by reducing the amount of electricity needed while outputting cooler air, depending on the SEER rating.

SEER Rating Scale

When measuring SEER, the higher the rating the higher the efficiency. As of 2004, the Federal Department of Energy required all air conditioners manufactured and installed within the United States to meet an efficiency level of at least SEER-13. In 2014, the law changed where southern parts of the United States had to have a minimum SEER-14. In Ohio, the law remains that all air conditioning units operate at a SEER-13. The lowest SEER rating must be a 13; however, there are units available rated as high as a SEER-18 and SEER-23, which operate at a higher efficiency.

SEER Level Benefits

If you are looking for an air conditioner replacement or a new air conditioner installation, high efficient systems with a higher SEER rating should be taken into consideration. While the minimum SEER level is a 13, there are several benefits of having higher ratings on your air conditioning unit.

Lower Energy Bills – The higher the SEER rating on your AC unit, the more energy you will save, resulting in lower energy bills throughout the cooling season.
Humidity – High efficiency systems help in removing moisture in your home. High SEER rating units can lower humidity in your home, reducing mold and other airborne issues.
Environmentally Friendly Performance – High efficiency systems use less energy which means fewer fossil fuels being burned and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Less energy is not only great for your wallet but is great for the environment.

Choosing an Energy Efficient Air Conditioning Unit

With hundreds of different air conditioning units on the market, it can be challenging to decide which one is best for your home or office. It is important to think about how often you will use the unit, the size of the home, and the approximate temperature you would like your unit set at before purchasing. A professional HVAC contractor can help you with these specifics and determine which high efficient unit is best for your home.

Efficient Air Conditioning Installation in Morrow, Ohio

Rick’s Heating & Cooling offers expert cooling services, including professional installation and repairing air conditioning units in Morrow, Ohio and surrounding areas. We install five different air conditioning units made by Armstrong Air that differ in SEER ranking. Rick’s Heating & Cooling also provides:

Now that you understand how SEER affects air conditioner performance, schedule an appointment with an expert by contacting us here!