What is SEER?
Plain-English explanation from a licensed Utah HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractor.
SEER is the cooling-efficiency rating of an air conditioner or heat pump, the higher the SEER number, the less electricity it uses per ton of cooling delivered over a typical Utah summer.
Full Definition
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It measures the total cooling output (in BTUs) a system delivers across an entire cooling season divided by the total electric energy (in watt-hours) it consumes. As of 2023 the U.S. Department of Energy uses SEER2, a slightly stricter test method that runs at higher external static pressure to better reflect real-world ducted installations. New residential AC units sold in Utah must be at least SEER2 14.3 (equivalent to old SEER 15). Premium variable-speed systems reach SEER2 22-27.
A jump from SEER2 14 to SEER2 18 typically cuts summer electric bills 25 to 30% on a Wasatch Front home. Over a 15-year system life those savings add up, depending on cooling load, and are often enough to make the premium worth it.
Common Questions
What's the difference between SEER and SEER2?
SEER2 is the post-2023 test standard that uses 0.5 inches water column external static pressure instead of 0.1, which better matches real installed ductwork. SEER2 numbers run roughly 4-5% lower than the equivalent SEER on the same equipment.
Is a higher SEER always worth it?
Not always. Above SEER2 ~18, payback time on the price premium can exceed 10 years for moderate cooling loads. Utah's dry, short cooling season makes mid-tier efficiency (SEER2 16-18) the typical sweet spot.
Related Terms
Heat Pump
A heat pump is an electric HVAC system that moves heat instead of generating it, it cools your home in summer like an AC and heats it in winter by running the refrigerant cycle in reverse.
Tonnage
Tonnage is the cooling-capacity measurement of an AC or heat pump, 1 ton equals 12,000 BTU/hr of heat removal, which is what one ton of melting ice would absorb in a 24-hour period.
Manual J Load Calculation
Manual J is the industry-standard whole-house heat-loss and heat-gain calculation that determines exactly how big your furnace and AC need to be, too big or too small both hurt comfort and efficiency.
AFUE
AFUE is the gas-furnace efficiency rating, it tells you what percentage of the fuel you pay for actually becomes usable heat in your home versus what escapes up the flue.
HSPF2
HSPF2 is the heating-efficiency rating of a heat pump, it measures how many BTUs of heat it delivers per watt-hour of electricity over a winter heating season.
Recent HVAC work in Utah
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