Getting “SEER”ious About Reducing Your Electricity Bill
By:
Hal Watson Air Conditioning Company, Inc.
| Published 05/08/2023
As inflation continues to erode our pocketbooks and the energy crisis drives up our heating and cooling bills, it may surprise you to learn that you could be saving some money every year by installing a new AC unit with a higher SEER rating. Going from a lower 12 SEER rated AC unit to a newer 16 SEER rated system can save you around 25-30% in electricity costs directly related to cooling your home. And with around 47% of our electricity expenses attributed to heating and cooling our homes, that could save you hundreds of dollars every year.
What is a SEER Rating?
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. According to the Department of Energy, “The seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) is the ratio of the total heat removed from the conditioned space during the annual cooling season divided by the total electrical energy consumed by the air conditioner during the same season.” In short, a higher SEER rating means your AC unit is consuming less energy than lower SEER rated units. SEER is a way of measuring the efficiency of your AC unit. There are minimum SEER requirements for new unit installations and they vary by region, but places like Texas that see a higher use of AC units during the summer months require a higher SEER rating than places up north that see cooler summer temperatures. Currently, the minimum SEER rating for AC units in Texas is 14, but installing a unit with a SEER rating of 16 can save you up to 13% in electricity costs versus a SEER 14 unit.
Advancements in AC Technology
As technology improves and AC manufacturers build better units, the average consumer can continue to increase the efficiency in which their home is cooled while saving money at the same time. Air conditioning units have come a long way since the early days of the 1940’s, and with smart thermostats, high efficient AC systems and environmentally friendly options, today’s consumer can benefit from new AC systems that not only provide higher comfort levels, but filter out contaminants that contribute to poor health.
Where is your SEER rating located on your unit?
The SEER rating is located close to the manufacturer’s label on the outside of your unit, usually on the backside of the AC.
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About Hal Watson
Hal Watson founded Hal Watson Air Conditioning in 1961. After retiring from police work, Hal wanted to serve the community he loved so much with quality and reliable HVAC services. Since its inception, the company has been a trusted, locally-owned business with a hometown attitude. Hal then passed the company on to Leah and her husband, Tyler Symens. The two picked up the torch and continued to grow the company without sacrificing customer service or quality of the products offered. Hal Watson AC is a hometown company with a hometown attitude. Reliability and trustworthiness matter, and it shows in the work done by everyone at the company.
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