How much can you save between 13 SEER and 16 SEER?
According to one SEER savings calculator, a 16-SEER AC will only save around $250 over a 15-year period compared to a similarly-sized, 13-SEER unit. The reason the energy savings are relatively low is because we only need to use our air conditioners for around 485 hours (20 days) per year here in Portland.
Is 16 SEER worth the extra money?
While more expensive than their 14 SEER counterparts, 16 SEER systems offer a significant increase in energy efficiency. In fact, 16 SEER units are up to 13% more efficient, which saves you hundreds of dollars in energy costs over the years.
Is 13 SEER good enough?
There’s no magic SEER number. Anything over 13 is great. Because if you have an old 8 SEER system and replace it with a 16 SEER unit, you could significantly reduce the cost of cooling your home. Don’t forget to look at tax credits and manufacturer’s rebates that can bring the down the cost of a high SEER system.
How much will a 16 SEER save me?
A typical example would include comparing a 3 ton, 8 SEER air conditioner to a new 3 ton, 16 SEER unit. Assuming the electricity cost to be $0.14 per kilowatt hour and the AC runs 2100 hours per season you would save $661 per year.
What is the difference between a 13 and 16 SEER air conditioner?
Seer stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. 13 Seer is the federal minimum to be sold, is single stage, and cheaper than the higher seer conditioners. The 16 seer is more expensive initially but saves you money in the long run by lowering your energy costs and has less of an impact on the environment.
Is 13 SEER considered high efficiency?
The minimum SEER rating is 13, with a rating above 16 considered high efficiency. You should consider a high efficiency system for the following reasons: Lower Utility Bills – High efficiency systems with higher SEER ratings use less energy, which translates to less money you spend on energy bills.
Which SEER rating should I buy?
Generally speaking, the higher the SEER rating, the better the unit’s efficiency. These days, new units must have a rating of at least 13 and most have a rating between 13 and 21, though some models may go even higher. Older and lower-end models, on the other hand, can have a lower rating.
Is 13 SEER AC bad?
13 SEER vs 16 SEER Typically, the best AC SEER rating used to replace old air conditioning units with 8 to 10 SEER is a 13 SEER air conditioner. Higher SEER rated units usually cost about 50% or more and don’t always deliver the right energy to make it more cost effective.
How efficient is a 13 SEER air conditioner?
According to EPA, a SEER 13 standard represents a 30 percent increase in minimum energy efficiency requirements for air conditioners, in contrast to a 20 percent increase with a SEER 12 standard. A SEER 13 standard will also accomplish more in reducing fossil fuel consumption and limiting air pollution.
Does a 16 SEER cool better than a 13 SEER?
Seer stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. 13 Seer is the federal minimum to be sold, is single stage, and cheaper than the higher seer conditioners. A 16 seer air conditioner is high efficiency, 2 stage so it transfers air twice as fast, and is eligible for a tax credit.
Is 13 SEER too low?
In most other regions 13 SEER is still the minimum as they rely more on heating systems than air conditioning. Jumping from a 13-14 SEER unit to a 20+ SEER unit will significantly reduce air conditioning costs.
Is 16 SEER Energy Efficient?
The key problem we face is this: 16 SEER is more energy-efficient than 14 SEER unit. It will use less electricity (true), but it will have a higher initial cost (true).
What is a good SEER rating?
What a good SEER rating is depends on many factors. The minimum federally-regulated rating is a 13 or 14 1, but a SEER rating can be as high as 25.
What is seer in air conditioning?
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It’s a rating system of the air conditioner’s cooling capacity to power input, i.e., it’s the ratio of the amount of cooling produced (in BTUs) divided by the amount of electricity (in watts) used. The higher the SEER, the greater the air conditioner’s efficiency. The U.S.