It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to know that spending money you don’t need to spend is not very smart. And that applies to deciding what central air conditioning system to buy and install for your home. Just like when it is time to buy a car, whether new or used, a smart buyer will take into consideration the miles per gallon of the vehicle. And so, when you need to decide which central cooling system to install you show you are a smart buyer by taking into consideration the “MPG” of the air conditioning industry: SEER and EER.
You’ve probably already read the two previous blog posts where we first talked about what each of those are and the difference between the two. Then we discussed which is more important, SEER or EER. So when do you put more weight on the SEER? And when should you depend more on the EER?
Let’s say you have narrowed down your choices to “Brand X” and “Brand Y”. When it comes to comparing the energy efficiency of the two choices, it’s important to remember to compare the EER of Brand X with the EER of Brand Y. The same goes with the SEER. Since they are two different measurements, you can’t compare one air conditioner’s EER to another’s SEER.
Having said that, in the case of both SEER and EER ratings, higher is better. And generally speaking the two ratings follow one another. In other words, if the SEER rating for Brand X is higher than for the Brand Y air conditioner, then more than likely the EER rating for Brand X will also be higher.
But that is not the case in 100% of air conditioners and heat pumps. So if Brand X has higher SEER ratings but Brand Y has higher EER ratings, which comparison is more important?
The EER rating is more important in climates with a long hot season. In most of the country there is no minimum EER rating to be able to install a typical residential central cooling system. However, in the southwestern states there are EER rating standards that have to be met or a unit cannot be sold or installed. The SEER rating is more important in climates where there is a wide range of summertime temperatures, since it takes into account “seasonal” operation.
Ready to let GAMA Air provide you with a no-obligation quote for changing out your HVAC system? We can also help you understand if buying a very high SEER AC is worth it in the long run for the savings you will get over the life of the central AC. Give us a call at (310) 651-6936 or use our online form to set up a visit at a time convenient to you. We guarantee your satisfaction 100%.
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