Choosing the Right SEER Rating for Your HVAC System

Multiple things go into choosing your HVAC system. One of those things is the SEER rating that your system holds. Along with the SEER rating, you’ll look at items such as cooling impact, costs, and size, but one could argue that the SEER rating is the most crucial factor when selecting an HVAC system.

Missouri has specific requirements for HVAC systems when it comes to SEER Ratings. Due to this, our team has created a helpful guide to aid you in the selection process to ensure you stay within the state regulations.

To talk SEER rating options for your St. Louis home with the Classic Aire Care team, call 314-329-1943.

Understanding SEER Ratings

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. In short, your unit’s SEER rating measures how efficiently your HVAC system produces air. As you know, systems use fuel or electricity to function. The higher your SEER rating, the more efficient your unit makes that translation.

What To Consider

The first thing to consider when choosing a system and SEER rating is deciding the needs of your home. If you have a larger home or a large family, you’ll want a higher SEER rating as it will provide a more thorough cooling or heating (depending on the season). Once you decide on your home’s needs, you can move on to other factors.

Other factors that should be considered include your state’s SEER requirement (more on that in a minute), how much you want to spend on your energy bill monthly, and what size HVAC unit will fit your home. Additionally, the quality of your insulation and your existing ductwork should be considered when choosing a SEER rating.

Benefits of Higher Ratings

Just because there is a minimum SEER requirement doesn’t mean you want to hover on it. Going above the minimum will result in a load of benefits for your home, which include the following:

• Increased energy efficiency: As your SEER rating increases, the energy efficiency of your system grows.
• Lower energy costs: Tying into the above point, increased energy efficiency will result in you spending less money on your energy bill monthly. This results in you saving money over time.
• More comfortable living conditions: Systems with higher SEER ratings will provide better cooling and heating output for your home. Giving you greater temperature control in your home will improve your quality of life.

Cost Considerations

With that said systems with a higher SEER rating will cost more to install. So, while you save money on energy usage and get a long-lasting system, you are looking at a higher upfront cost when choosing a higher SEER rating. The balancing act is the key part of SEER rating and system selection.

SEER Rating Requirements in Missouri

In almost every state, there is a minimum SEER rating for your home’s AC unit. Most states in the United States have a SEER rating of 13, making it the basic rating needed for your AC. However, Missouri holds a required SEER rating of 14. While going above a 14 is never wrong, any rating below a 14 will cause you to violate Missouri state codes and could result in trouble.

Why Choose Classic Aire Care?

For over 90 years, the Classic Aire Care team has been a trusted HVAC company in the St. Louis region. Our NATE-certified technicians help carry out a customer-first process that involves free estimates, satisfaction guarantees, and 24 hours a day, 7 days a week emergency services.