Air Conditioner Shopping? Understand the importance of SEER ratings, programmable thermostats
If you’re shopping for a new air conditioner, you’ll undoubtedly hear the acronym, SEER, which is short for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. But what does that really mean? And why should a homeowner care?
“With things like SEER, BTU and abbreviations, air conditioners can become an acronym soup for homeowners; but a little information can go a long way in helping you understand what type of system you are buying for your home,” says Steve Mason, co-owner of Mason Mechanical, an HVAC contractor in the Valley.
Breaking down SEER by its parts
A SEER rating measures the amount of cooling effect an air conditioner puts out in relation to the amount of energy it consumes. First, you start with a simple calculation called the EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) where you take the total BTU (British Thermal Units) of rejected heat (or air that’s actually cooled) per hour, then divide it by the number of watts used to achieve this cooling effect.
EER, however, is calculated in a controlled environment. As most of us probably already know, an air conditioner operating in the desert has many more challenges than one operating in a controlled testing environment. That’s why the “S” in SEER is critical. That “S” factors in seasonal adjustments made for temperature and humidity.
“Think of SEER as a rating similar to MPG (miles per gallon) on a car when you combine highway and city driving,” Mason said. “To get the power and performance of whatever vehicle you are driving, a certain amount of fuel is needed. In the world of air conditioners, the higher the SEER rating, generally speaking, less energy is needed to get the cooling power offered.”
Often consumers think that a system with a higher SEER rating has a greater cooling capacity. This is not actually true, Mason adds.
“One way to increase efficiency is to install a smaller compressor while increasing the unit’s coil capacity (The coil is attached to the furnace or air handler inside the home. It holds refrigerant and actually cools the air). That larger coil size is actually why air conditioning units are so much larger today,” the expert explained.
How thermostats can help
Thermostats can also play a part in helping to reduce the amount of energy your high-efficiency air conditioner consumes.
Arizona is very unique. At certain times of the year, like spring and fall, heating may be required in the morning and cooling in the latter part of the day. Some programmable thermostats have an auto-change feature that switches from heating to cooling, when needed. Some of these thermostats may even allow for programming that increases the temperature slightly when you are not home, then decreases it when you get home at the end of the day.
Digital and programmable thermostats also have a built-in safety timer, meaning when the air conditioner system shuts off, it is not allowed to start back up for at least five minutes. It’s a great safety feature, Mason said.
“When you shut the AC system off, the refrigerant pressure is high on one side and low on the other. It’s hard on the compressor to try to start up if the refrigerant has not equalized,” he added. “A good example would be trying to take off in your car while in fourth gear. It’s terrible for the system and very inefficient.”
Today’s digital and programmable thermostats can become an integral part of daily living for homeowners. Some thermostats even communicate with smart appliances in the home and regulate their use based on non-peak energy demand hours.
“If you’re moving into a new home or just bought a new thermostat, take the time to get acquainted with it. The more time you put in early to better understand it, the more you’ll get out of it in energy savings,” Mason said.
For more HVAC tips or to schedule a service appointment, visit Mason Mechanical online or call 602-680-5086.
Members of the editorial and news staff of the USA Today Network were not involved in the creation of this content.