As we sit down to “pen” this latest blog, it’s March 26 and you’d think summer was still 6 months away. It’s only 42 degrees at the moment, for goodness sake. But according to Weather.com, it’s going to jump to 83 in just a couple of days, so we’re inspired to write something about air conditioning for the first time in a good long while.

Specifically, here at Optimum Air we’re always getting asked about SEER ratings and what’s the right one to look for in a new air conditioning system. Ultimately, as with most things in the world of home comfort, there’s really no right or wrong answer as you’re about to see.

For starters, SEER is a term used solely with heat pumps, ductless air, and central air conditioning systems. It stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. And sure, we’ll be happy to wait while you say that three times fast.

Okay, and now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Air conditioning systems sold today have minimum SEER ratings of 13, and that makes them a whole lot more energy efficient than even those built just five years ago or so. The higher the SEER rating, the less amount of energy it takes to power your system. Therefore, the higher the rating, the less you’ll spend on electricity to enjoy the unbelievable comfort a new, energy efficient system has to offer.

Using one of several online energy savings calculators you’ll find with a Google search, here are two quick examples of how much you can save on your energy costs when you upgrade to a more efficient AC system. For the sake of comparison, both of the following assume that your current system has a 10 SEER rating for the sake of comparison:

Purchase a new 15 SEER model and you’ll save $1,620 on your energy bill over the course of 15 year.
With a 22 SEER system (and they come higher than that), your 15-year savings jump to $2,655.

Here’s something else to keep in mind that will appeal to your sense of environmental protection: the higher the SEER rating, the lower the amount of carbon dioxide that’s released into the environment.

Buying a new air conditioning system can be a head-scratching process. That’s why we invite you to contact the home comfort pros at Optimum Air. We’re ready to help you make sense of it all and choose exactly the right system for your home and budget. We promise!