We often stress the importance of SEER ratings when determining which new air conditioner you should purchase. The rating is an easy way to determine the system’s efficiency, and after the power load (the amount of output the air conditioner generates), the SEER rating is the single most important factor in selecting an air conditioner. Here’s a quick analysis of what all that means for you.<\/p>\n
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It’s determined by dividing the cooling power in British Thermal Units (BTU) iwth the energy consumed in watt hours. As of 2015, all air conditioners in Louisiana need to have a SEER rating of at leas 14, though older air conditioners may have a rating that’s much lower. Indeed one of the very best reasons to get a new air conditioner is because your old one is costing you and arm and a leg in monthly energy bills. A new one can put those bills in order and hep ease the strain on your monthly budget.<\/p>\n
It’s important to balance the SEER rating of a new air conditioner against the system’s power output, and not to let the one take precedence over the other. The power output needs to match the size and particulars of your home, and you shouldn’t settle for an underpowered air conditioner with a higher SEER rating just because you think it will be more efficient. Such a system would have to run much longer to cool your home than a more powerful system would and eliminate the advantage of a higher SEER rating. Determine the right size system for your space, then select the model with the highest SEER rating you can afford.<\/p>\n