What is more important SEER or EER rating?
When rating a new air conditioning system, two test criteria are used. The SEER rating for air conditioning equipment is an efficiency rating that is tested at 82degrees F outside air temperature. This test is fine for areas of the country like Florida or Texas where the high humidity requires that systems run at 82degrees F. Here in Bakersfield, 82degrees F weather is window weather. Due to our dryer climate, we typically do not run our air conditioning units until the temperature outside reaches over 90degrees F. Here in Bakersfield we have always relied on the EER efficiency rating to determine an accurate operational efficiency of air conditioning equipment. The EER is tested at 95degrees F. We have found in some cases that equipment with a higher SEER rating can have the same EER rating of a 13 SEER unit. With cost differences up to $3000.00 for higher efficiency equipment you may never get your money back through savings in electrical usage. If you would like some more informatio
