If you’re needing air conditioner installation in Front Royal, you should also be looking at your new air conditioner’s SEER rating.

SEER means Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. In a nutshell, it examines how productive your air conditioner is at changing electricity into cooled air. A bigger number indicates your air conditioner is more efficient, which is excellent for your cooling bills.

However, there are a lot of different options to choose from for air conditioners. And a higher SEER rating usually is accompanied by a more expensive price. So, how do you know which one is ideal for your residence?

At Dave's Diversified Services, we give you a free, no-pressure home comfort analysis. You can book one by contacting us at 540-636-3396. Our skilled air conditioner installers will partner with you to help you find the right air conditioner for your budget. Plus, they’ll also offer you a free, no-obligation estimate.

Right now, let’s discuss SEER ratings and how they can impact your home’s comfort. And your electric expenses.

What Does the SEER Rating Even Matter?

In 2016, the federal government made new SEER criteria. New air conditioners are required to be at least 13 SEER in the northern United States and 14 SEER in the southeast and southwest. If you don’t know when you had your air conditioner installed or what its SEER rating is, you can check the sticker on the system outside your home. If you can’t locate the sticker, you can give us a call at 540-636-3396 for assistance.

If your air conditioner was installed in advance of that time, it’s presumably much less efficient. Cooling technology has rapidly evolved in the past few years, with major breakthroughs in energy efficiency and smart home capability. Pairing your new air conditioner with a smart thermostat could help you spend less on utility costs, since the thermostat can intuitively adjust your temperature settings when you’re out.

If your current air conditioner has a SEER rating between 8 and 10, getting a 14-SEER system could save you an estimated 30–50% on annual cooling costs. Your savings are contingent upon your air conditioner size and your temp settings.

Is the highest SEER Rating the Best?

An air conditioner with a greater SEER rating will be more efficient at consuming electricity for cooling. The best efficient ones, which can go as high as 26 SEER, carry ENERGY STAR® endorsement. This certification signifies the air conditioner has achieved EPA rules for energy savings and environmental conservation.

While ENERGY STAR air conditioners are typically more costly, you’ll normally get the difference back throughout the years through reduced electrical expenses. These air conditioners, which are usually rated 16 SEER and up, consume about 8% less power than other new models, according to ENERGY STAR.

One of the largest differences between a 14 SEER and 16 SEER is variable-speed capacity. A variable-speed air conditioner can cool at varying speeds. This fine-tunes comfort for your home while keeping your cooling bills reduced. It can also keep temperatures and humidity more balanced, since it can go for longer without consuming a lot more power.

When installing a variable-speed air conditioner, you’ll have to make sure that your furnace or air handler is compatible. This is since your air conditioner depends on this system’s blower to send cold air throughout your residence. Furnaces only work for around 20 years, so if yours is around that mark, we suggest getting furnace installation at the same time so you can get all the perks of your variable-speed air conditioner.

When you’re prepared to replace your air conditioner, the cooling professionals at Dave's Diversified Services are available to assist you. Call us at 540-636-3396 to request your free home comfort analysis right away.