RESIDENTIAL HEATING AND COOLING: EFFICIENCY AND & SEER RATING EXPLAINED

The old age and poor efficiency of your old heating and air conditioning system is a great reason to begin planning on replacing it this fall. High repair costs on an old system along with increasing utility rates make replacing your heating and air conditioning sound better and better every day. What I would like to do is to explain efficiency and the common term S.E.E.R rating with you so that you may make an informed decision regarding your purchase. S.E.E.R rating stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. Basically the higher the rating, the more electricity you save for heating and cooling the same amount of space. 


S.E.E.R ratings for this year have the minimum rating of 13 (although this will change after December 31, 2014 according to recent government reports to 14) and many manufactures produce systems up to 18-20 S.E.E.R range.  

Over a relatively short payback period, say 7 years it is very justifiable economically to purchase a 15 or 16 S.E.E.R system over a 13. Without getting into any boring calculations I will leave you with this excerpt from the energy.gov website : 

“Today’s best heating and air conditioners use 30% to 50% less energy to produce the same amount of cooling as air conditioners made in the mid 1970s. Even if your heating and air conditioner is only 10 years old, you may save 20% to 40% of your heating and cooling energy costs by replacing it with a newer, more efficient model. Proper sizing and installation are key elements in determining air conditioner efficiency. Too large a unit will not adequately remove humidity. Too small a unit will not be able to attain a comfortable temperature on the coolest and hottest days. Improper unit location, lack of insulation, and improper duct installation can greatly diminish efficiency.”

We would be more than happy to explain this in more detail at your home, contact us today for your customized estimate to replace your heating and air conditioning system. We serve all of Kentucky including Lexington, Pikeville, Ashland, Prestonsburg, Richmond, and surrounding areas. 

Phone: (859) 429-2207

Thanks for reading. 


Resource:
energy.gov