What does seer mean

Heating and cooling units generally use more electricity than any of your household appliances, according to the U. Department of Energy DOE. Because of a recent ruling by the U. Older, outdated air conditioners generally have a SEER rank of 10 and under.

They tend to require more frequent repairs than newer models. They also eat up way more electricity than an air conditioner with a 14 SEER rating. If your system is ten to 15 years old but continues keeping you cool in the summer, you might still want to consider investing in a newer unit. To illustrate, say your current system has a SEER rating of 9. If you upgraded to an air conditioner with a 13 SEER, which is the lowest efficiency available, your power consumption would be reduced by 28 percent.

The SEER rating represents the potential efficiency of the unit under perfect conditions. But what exactly is SEER? So when you are in the market for a new air conditioner, you will want to pay attention to the SEER level of the different units you are considering. The higher the SEER number, the more efficiency bang you will get for your efficiency buck. This translates to money you save in the long run on energy costs.

The DOE requires residential air conditioner systems manufactured after January 1, , to have a minimum SEER based on their location in the country. The country regions were divided in North and South, with the South being further divided into Southeastern and Southwestern regions. Minimum ratings range from 13 to 14 SEER.

Previously all systems manufactured after January 23, , needed to have a minimum SEER rating of 13 with the exception of window units, being exempt from this law.