What’s the Difference Between EER and SEER?

If you’re in the market for an air conditioner or heat pump, Apex NC certainly has resources to help you out. Prudent homeowners will behoove themselves of every opportunity to learn about the system and their features before making a purchase. Among other aspects, you may have heard the terms SEER and EER passed around, which have a huge bearing on purchases of this nature. But what the heck are they? More importantly, what’s the difference between EER and SEER?

SEER stands for Season Energy Effectiveness Ratio, while EER simple drops the “seasonal” from the phrase. EER measures the cooling efficiency of the air conditioner or heat pump in relation to the outdoor temperature set at a specific level. SEER makes the same measurement, only it does so with the temperature of an entire season factored in.

The differences start with the specific calculations. EER is measured by dividing its BTU (British Thermal Units) capacity by the running wattage, while the SEER rating is calculated by dividing its BTU cooling power over a year by its total watt hours. Basically that means that you can measure an EER rating directly, while you have to estimate a SEER rating based on averages over the course of time.

In both cases, the higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. Most air conditioners and heat pumps use the SEER rating these days, but even those that use the EER ratings still have a comparative basis for choosing a unit. The higher the rating, the higher the cost (unless you can find a real bargain) but the more money you will likely save on your monthly energy bills.

That needs to be factored into your considerations, along with other variables such as sizing the unit for your home and looking for any bells and whistles that come with the unit. If you’re looking for an air conditioning system or heat pump in Apex, NC , Ideal Services Heating & Cooling can help. We can explain the difference between SEER and EER, as well as answering any other questions you may have, and setting up a schedule for installation. Pick up the phone and give us a call today!