Anyone who has gone through the process of researching central air conditioning systems has probably seen that these systems come with what is known as a SEER rating. What exactly is this rating, though, and how much attention should you be paying to it? When you are talking about the SEER rating, you are focusing in on the energy efficiency rating of your system essentially. Talking to one of our professionals during an install or an AC repair Jacksonville FL job can help you shed some added light on the rating your system has, but research early on is certainly going to be beneficial.
Defining the SEER
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating that your system has is a testament to just how energy efficient that your system is. When you have a system that has a higher energy efficiency rating, it is also going to have with it a higher SEER rating. Air conditioning systems that are not as energy efficient are going to have a lower SEER rating.
The SEER should play a factor in your buying decision when shopping for a central air conditioning system. Having a full understanding of the SEER can help you find that balance between how much you want to spend on the system, and what it will cost you to run the system month to month after the installation or AC repair Jacksonville FL is complete.
Where is the Rating?
The vast majority of central air conditioning units are going to have a yellow sticker that is attached to them that say Energy Guide on them. This is where you are going to be able to see the SEER rating. If you already threw away this yellow label years ago, there is also going to be a SEER rating on the manufacturer label. The location of the score should be around the same area where you will find the model and a serial number of the unit.
When you are reading the model number, look for the beginning digits to identify your SEER rating. Say you have a model number that reads 15ADHE. That leading set of numbers, the 15, is what is going to be the SEER rating of your particular system. So even if it does not explicitly lay out the SEER rating for you, the information is going to be on the unit to find.
Range of SEER Ratings
SEER ratings are going to vary quite a bit from one system to another. Standard SEER ratings start at 13 and go all of the ways up to 25. The higher that the rating is, the more energy efficient your system is going to be. Higher SEER ratings are also going to carry with them a bigger price tag, though. It is all about finding the balance between what you are comfortable spending and how much energy efficiency you want out of your system. You may buy the lowest SEER rated system, but end up paying much more monthly to run it because of its lack of efficiency in the energy space. Somewhere in the middle is where most consumers typically fall with the SEER rating.
As a homeowner, you want to pay attention to the SEER rating of the system that you are either buying of the system being worked on as part of an AC repair Jacksonville FL. Knowing what the SEER rating is and what it equates to regarding energy efficiency gains or losses is important. The more information you know about the system you are buying or already own, the more educated you will be about its impact on your energy usage and how you can hopefully improve it down the line. Any questions about SEER that require more detail can indeed be answered by our team of professionals at J&W Heating and Air + Plumbing.
