When you buy a new air conditioner, you want to make sure you get the best quality system you can. How much energy does it use? How loud is the unit? These are important questions to ask before investing in an A/C. But how do you find the answers? Just look at the air conditioner ratings.
- SEER. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio measures how much cooling your A/C produces for the amount of energy it uses, over the course of a given cooling season. The higher the number, the more efficient the system. You can find the SEER rating on the unit’s yellow EnergyGuide label.
- HSFP. If you decide on a heat pump, rather than an air conditioner, then you’ll have to look at the efficiency of its heating portion as well. On furnaces, this is measured with the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating, but with heat pumps, it’s the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF). It works in much the same way as the SEER rating, only measuring how many BTUs of heat the system produces for the energy it uses. Again, the higher the rating, the more efficient the unit.
- Energy Star. More a certification than a rating, this is still an important factor in your A/C’s energy efficiency. A system with the blue Energy Star logo has has been proven to save money and energy compared to other, similar models, without sacrificing performance or features. Look for the logo on the yellow EnergyGuide label.
- SRN. Not all air conditioner ratings measure energy efficiency. The Sound Rating Number measures how loud the system is. Will it be distracting to your family? Will the outdoor unit annoy your neighbors? A/Cs range in volume from about the level of a normal conversation to the volume of a blender. The SRN tells you how loud your A/C is. Unlike with energy efficiency ratings, here the lowest numbers are best, indicating a quieter system.
To learn more about air conditioner ratings and how to use them, contact us at Mowery Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing. We proudly serve the Indianapolis area’s HVAC needs.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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