SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, measures how efficiently your HVAC system cools your home. A higher SEER rating means the system uses less energy to maintain comfort, which can lower your utility bills. Understanding how SEER ratings impact your energy costs can help you make informed decisions about efficiency, long-term savings, and overall home comfort. Allegiance Heating & Cooling in Mokena, IL, can help guide you to the right SEER system for your home and budget.
What Is Seer, and Why Should You Care?
If you’ve ever looked into upgrading your air conditioner or heat pump, you’ve probably seen the term SEER rating thrown around. Think of SEER as the scorecard for how efficiently your HVAC system cools your home. The higher the number, the less energy the system wastes when turning electricity into cool air.
An efficient system means lower utility bills and better comfort. If your AC has a low SEER rating, it has to work harder to cool your home, which means more electricity usage—and that means a bigger bill at the end of the month. A higher-rated system uses less power to get the same job done, which keeps more money in your pocket over time.
Does a Higher SEER Rating Always Mean Better?
It’s easy to assume that the highest SEER rating is always the best choice. After all, if a higher number means better efficiency, why wouldn’t you want the most efficient system possible? But it’s not always that simple. The right SEER rating for you depends on several factors, including your climate, how often you run your AC, how warm or cold your house gets, and how well your home holds in conditioned air.
For example, an upgrade to a higher SEER unit can make a big difference in energy savings. But, if you only need to run your air conditioner a few months out of the year, the savings might not be enough to justify the extra cost. And if your home isn’t properly insulated, even the best-rated AC won’t fix air leaks that let all that cool air escape.
SEER and Your Energy Bill
One of the biggest reasons people pay attention to SEER ratings is the impact on electricity costs. A unit with a higher SEER rating cools your home with less electricity, so you don’t feel the sting every time you open your energy bill.
Let’s say your current system is an older model with a SEER rating of 10. Upgrading to a unit with a SEER of 16 could cut your cooling costs by 40%. That adds up fast, especially during those hot months in Mokena when your AC is running constantly.
But there’s a balance to strike. Units with a higher SEER rating usually come with a higher up-front price tag. If you’re upgrading from an older system, the long-term savings can make it worth it. But, if you’re replacing a unit that already has a decent SEER rating, you’ll want to crunch the numbers to see how much extra efficiency you’re really getting for the price.
The Role of SEER in Home Comfort
Energy savings are great, but comfort is just as important. An AC with a higher SEER rating doesn’t just use less electricity—it also cools your home more effectively. Many modern high-SEER systems come with variable-speed compressors and fans, which means they can adjust their cooling power instead of constantly turning on and off like older models.
This helps eliminate those annoying hot and cold spots in your home. Instead of blasting cold air and shutting off until the temperature rises again, a high-SEER system can maintain a more consistent, even temperature. That means no more sweating in one room while another feels like an icebox.
Future of SEER Ratings
If you’re in the market for a new HVAC system, you may have noticed that SEER ratings have been changing. Starting in 2023, the Department of Energy raised the bar on efficiency standards, so newer AC systems now have to meet higher SEER ratings. The goal is to help homeowners save on energy bills and cut down on wasted electricity.
If you have an older unit, you might still be running a system with a SEER rating of 10 or lower, which is no longer considered efficient by today’s standards. Newer models start at SEER 14 or 15 and go up from there. While this change means you may pay more up front for a new system, the long-term savings on your energy bill could make up for it. If you’re unsure what SEER rating makes sense for your home, a professional can help guide you to the right choice.
Call Us Today
Whether you’re looking to save on your monthly bills or you just want a system that keeps up with the summer heat, a well-rated unit makes all the difference. If you’re ready to explore energy-efficient HVAC options, call Allegiance Heating & Cooling today. We offer air conditioner repair, installation, and tune-up services as well as indoor air quality services.
