How SEER Rating Affects Your HVAC Choice and Energy Bills

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is the standard for measuring the efficiency of HVAC units, particularly air conditioners and cooling systems. A unit with higher SEER efficiency consumes less energy, and that’s why it is associated with lower energy bills. On the other hand, a unit with a lower SEER rating is less efficient and consumes more energy, and that’s why it incurs higher energy bills.

HVAC units with SEER ratings between 14 and 16 are the best for residential use in Pennsylvania. They provide reliable comfort, stay efficient, control both humidity and cooling, and conserve energy as well. Switching from a SEER rating 10 to a SEER rating 14 can cut cooling costs by 25-35% and save $150-$350 annually. In this blog, we will explore how SEER rating influences your HVAC choice and how it affects energy bills.

What is SEER Rating

The SEER rating is a standard for measuring how much cooling output your cooling system provides after consuming a specific amount of energy. It is calculated as follows.

SEER = Total Cooling Output (BTU) ÷ Total Energy Input (Watt-hours)

The typical range of SEER ratings in various regions of Pennsylvania is from 13 to 24.

How SEER Rating Impacts Pennsylvania Energy Bills

SEER ratings directly increase or decrease your energy bills. If your system has a higher rating, it conserves energy without compromising the comfort it provides. On the other hand, if it is of low rating, it compromises cooling, consumes more energy, and costs you more in energy bills.

The following table explains which specific SEER rating helps conserve how much energy and its effect on annual cost savings.

SEER Rating	Efficiency Increase	Annual Savings	PA Typical Home Cost
SEER 13	30% better	$150-$200	$600-$900/year
SEER 16	60% better	$250-$350	$450-$700/year
SEER 18	80% better	$300-$400	$400-$650/year
SEER 20+	100%+ better	$400-$500+	$350-$600/year

For every 1 SEER point increase, you get approximately 7-10% energy reduction annually.

How SEER Rating Affects Your HVAC Choice

SEER rating helps you understand which specific unit is better for your comfort. Remember, the good deal is not always choosing a unit with the highest rating. The smart thing is when you balance your budget with the efficiency you need. The following are recommended SEER ratings for your PA homes with respect to your home size and budget preferences.

SEER 14-16

This is the SEER rating most PA homeowners aim at. It is the best rating for you if:

• Your house experiences average PA climate
• You experience 4-5 months cooling and 6-7 months heating season
• Your home size is around 1,500-2,500 sq ft
• You plan to stay in the home for 5 years or longer

With these SEER ratings, you get 25-35% savings compared to older units.

SEER 18+

Systems with these SEER ratings are many times more efficient than the ones we discussed above. In fact, these systems are built for specialized homes and climates. You should aim at this particular rating if:

• You have a larger home with a size over 2,500 sq ft
• You experience very hot summers
• There are higher energy costs in your region
• You prioritize energy sustainability primarily

SEER 13

This is the lowest SEER rating you can choose for your HVAC system. It is good to choose in the following situations.

• You are extremely tight on budget
• You have a very small home of less than 1,500 sq ft
• You plan to live for a shorter period

Calculate Your SEER Savings in Pennsylvania

As we mentioned in the above sections, increasing SEER ratings by just one digit can significantly reduce the costs that you would otherwise spend on energy bills. It is easy to make decisions on SEER ratings when you can practically calculate how much you will actually be saving by upgrading your HVAC system.

You can easily calculate annual energy savings by using the following formula.

Annual Savings = (Current SEER − New SEER) ÷ Current SEER × Current Cooling Cost