Indiana homeowners know all too well that when summer hits, the heat and humidity is nothing to contend with, especially without a properly functioning air conditioner. If you are considering replacing an old and outdated air conditioner, it’s best to do it now before the heat really kicks in.

Among the various factors you should consider when replacing your air conditioner is the new system’s efficiency level, measured by a SEER rating. The higher this rating is, the more the system does with less—always an important factor to keep in mind. But what exactly does that mean? We’ve delved a little deeper into SEER ratings below

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio

SEER is an acronym for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and is an easy way to measure an air conditioner’s efficiency across multiple different systems. The measurement is derived from the overall cooling output in British Thermal Units (BTUs) by the fuel consumption in watt-hours.

This usually delivers a number between 13 and 18, though wall AC units and older AC systems might have a lower SEER rating. The federal government now sets a minimum SEER rating of 13 for all centralized air conditioners manufactured today.

What Does This All Mean?

It’s natural to assume that you want to purchase a unit with the highest SEER rating you can afford. For the most part this is true, however it is important to balance that factor against other considerations, such as the overall power output of your new AC system.

While a smaller unit may have a higher SEER rating than a larger unit you had your eye on, if it’s too small it may be underpowered for your home. Even a system with a high SEER rating will have to work too hard to cool down your home if it is too small for the space that it is in. For more information about balancing SEER rating with your other air conditioning needs, talk to a trained technician today.

For quality air conditioning installation and services in Hobart, IN, contact Earl’s Heating & Air Conditioning today.