What is a SEER Rating and How Does It Affect Me?

Buying a new climate control system for your Riverside, California, home can seem daunting, especially when faced with HVAC terminology. We’re here to help clear up some of the confusion surrounding buying a new HVAC unit, specifically as it relates to SEER ratings. Here’s a quick rundown of what a SEER rating is and how it should play into what HVAC system you buy.

What Is SEER?

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This tells you how efficient the system is, specifically during the cooling season. When you’re looking at SEER ratings, the higher the number, the more efficient the system. Modern HVAC systems have a minimum rating of around 14 or 15, with better systems ranking as high as 21.

How Is it Measured?

The SEER rating is a ratio of the average cooling output during a season over the total electrical input during that same season. Essentially, how much is your HVAC doing compared to the amount of electricity it takes to run? If you have a poor SEER rating, it’s cooling relatively little with a lot of electrical input and vice versa.

What Rating Will Work Best for Me?

SEER ratings come into play when pricing out your budget for a new HVAC system. High-rated systems are typically more expensive than their less efficient counterparts. It comes down to a balance between cost and efficiency. Higher-efficiency systems can save you money over time by lowering your utility bills, but less efficient systems cost less upfront. Note that old HVAC systems are typically rated a 6 or 7 on the SEER scale, so even if you have to opt for a less efficient model, it’s still far better than older models.

Our experts at Hush Air Heating & Air Conditioning can help you pick the HVAC system that’s right for you. Give us a call at 951-373-3784 for a consultation.

Image provided by Shutterstock