What's a SEER and why does it matter?
January 23, 2006 marks a new era in home comfort. By Federal law, the minimum efficiency standard for newly manufactured air conditioners and heat pumps increases from 10 SEER to 13 SEER.
SEER is short for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It's a number similiar to miles-per-gallon in cars. So the higher the SEER, the more efficient your system. A 13 SEER system is about 30% more efficient than a 10 SEER system.
Another aspect of the new era is the environmentally friendly refrigerant R-410A. This refrigerant is just as effective as the older R-22 refrigerant, which government regulation will gradually phase out.
Because of these changes, it pays to understand how they affect your system's performance. You'll learn why having matched and balanced components in your system directly affects your comfort, as well as how much energy you buy and use. |
