Columbus Air Conditioning Q/A: What Is SEER?

If you’ve been looking at air conditioning systems in Columbus, you’ve probably noticed that they all seem to have a SEER rating. But what does this actually mean?

The SEER, which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, is a measure of how energy efficient a particular air conditioning model is. So when you’re shopping around for the best deal on an air conditioner for your home, this is something you’ll absolutely want to pay attention to.

Interpreting SEER Ratings

The SEER rating system is relatively simple – the higher the SEER, the more energy efficient the product. But because a higher price tag typically comes with a higher SEER rating, it’s important to know just how much more efficient a higher rated unit will be. It helps you decide whether paying significantly more for a higher rated unit is worth it in the long run. Will it actually save you enough each month to make up for the difference in price?

Evaluating Your Energy Usage

A big factor here is how much you will use your Columbus air conditioner. If you live in a place with very hot and humid summers where the air conditioning runs constantly, you’re probably best off with the highest SEER you can find. When you consume that much energy to keep your home cool, you want to get as much as possible out of it, and that’s what a high SEER model can do for you.

On the other hand, if you live in an area that doesn’t have the harshest summers, you may be better off with a slightly less efficient (and therefore cheaper) model. Keep in mind that the actual percentage increase in energy efficiency goes up by smaller and smaller increments, as you go higher in SEER ratings. For instance, while a 10 SEER unit may be almost 20% more efficient than an 8 SEER model, a 12 SEER is only about 10% more efficient than that 10 SEER.

Finding the Right Balance

The best way to decide what SEER rating is best for you, is to determine the annual cooling costs with your current unit. Then calculate your savings in dollars based on the percentage each model would improve your efficiency. If you don’t currently have an air conditioning system, this can be a bit tricky, but a Columbus air conditioning professional can help you estimate your total monthly cooling costs with the various units. If you are interested in installing a new air conditioning system, give Quality Air Heating and Air Conditioning a call!