New SEER Requirements
On January 1st, 2015, new standards of efficiency from the U.S. Department of Energy went into effect. Among these are higher SEER standards than in previous years.
Now, you may be asking: what does SEER even stand for, and what do these changes mean for me?
SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, is the standard given to air conditioning systems in order to measure their efficiency. In more familiar terms, it is similar to a rating of miles per gallon for motor vehicles; the higher the number, the more efficient the system is.
For the first time ever, the new standards set down by the Department of Energy require different SEER ratings for A/C systems in varying geographical regions of the United States. California, which is included in the Southwest region, used to have requirements of 13 SEER in years previous. However, since the beginning of this year, the requirement has gone up to 14 SEER.
To put this in perspective, most A/C units about fifteen years ago would never have gone above 10 SEER, but now A/C systems are far more efficient and the average SEER rating already runs around 13 to 14.
If you do have to purchase a higher efficiency A/C unit, it can be pricey and the units tend to be big. Not to worry, though – there are plenty of affordable, midsize units that still meet the new requirements. Contact us, your local HVAC contractors, to get help with determining your SEER rating, fixing up your old system, or purchasing an entirely new A/C unit.
If you are unsure of the SEER rating of your A/C unit, or have any other questions or concerns, call us at 1-800-994-2577.