If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, now is the time to buy. Spring has arrived in Ponchatoula, LA, and that means another sweltering Louisiana summer can’t be far behind. Replacing your air conditioner now gives you the time to perform the operation according to your timetable instead of scrambling to perform an installation in front of an oncoming heat wave. A new air conditioner requires you to carefully evaluate a number of different factors, not the least among them is a SEER rating. The term stands of Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and it measures how effectively your air conditioner uses energy. You should always buy a new air conditioner with a higher SEER rating than your old one. Why? Here’s a quick set of guidelines.
How It’s Derived
The SEER rating is generated by dividing the cooling power created by the air conditioner (measured in British Thermal Units or BTUs) by the energy it consumes to generate that power (measured in watt-hours). So an air conditioner that produces 10,000 BTUs worth of cool air while consuming 1,000 watt-hours worth of energy would have a SEER rating of 10, while an air conditioner that produces 15,000 BTUs for the same amount of energy would have a SEER rating of 15.
Why That Matters
Obviously you want a unit with the highest SEER rating you can afford, since it will use energy more efficiently and cost less to run than a unit with a lower SEER rating. That can be tricky though, since more powerful units that better fit a larger home may have a lower SEER rating than a smaller unit which can’t possibly generate enough cool air to make the same space comfortable. Excessive us can also eliminate a SEER advantage, which is why you should always consult with an expert when determining the best new air conditioner for your home.
Call A Professional today to discuss your options for a new air conditioner.