What Do You Know About Air Conditioner Ratings?

When comparison shopping for a new A/C, air conditioner ratings can help you make a more informed purchase. While the initial price of a new air conditioner happens up-front when you buy it, the ongoing, longer-term costs of operating it won’t become obvious until the system’s been installed and running for some time.

Since not all units deliver equal energy efficiency, air conditioner ratings are helpful to distinguish in advance the true bargains from those that may have lower initial sticker price but actually cost more to operate. Other air conditioner ratings can tell you something about the user-friendliness of a particular A/C, specifically how well it maintains your household peace and quiet.

SEER

It’s the primary air conditioner efficiency rating required by the federal government on units sold in the U.S. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It’s a numeral you’ll see prominently printed on the yellow EnergyGuide label that’s affixed to all new air conditioners. The SEER rating is also included in manufacturer’s specs included with the unit.

The SEER calculation expresses the ratio between the BTUs of heat removed from your home versus the kilowatt hours of electricity required to do so. The higher the SEER rating number is, the more energy efficient the unit will be. Higher efficiency is typically associated with lower monthly operating costs.

Presently, the federal required minimum SEER rating in northern states like Ohio is 13. High-efficiency units may have SEER ratings in the 20s — but with a higher purchase price, too. Striking the best balance between affordable sticker price and desirable SEER rating is a decision a qualified HVAC contractor can help you make.

db And SRN

These two air conditioner ratings relate to the sound level of a unit: The lower the numeral, the quieter the operation. A db (decibel) rating below 88 or an SRN rating between 75 and 80 are preferable.

The experts at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning are ready with more answers to your questions about air conditioner ratings.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air conditioner ratings and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.

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