Knowing the differences between 16 SEER vs. 14 SEER HVAC appliances

SEER, short of Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, refers to a rating used to determine an air conditioning appliance efficiency.

The “ratio” describes the cooling output of your air conditioning appliance throughout a proper cooling season divided by the AC’s energy usage.

The major differences between a 16 SEER plus a 14 SEER AC appliance are the upfront costs, comfort levels, plus the level of energy savings. Typically, an air conditioning appliance with a 16 SEER rating provides enhanced humidification, more uniform cooling through your dwelling, plus can more precisely achieve the set temperature than an AC appliance with a 14 SEER rating. This is because higher SEER units come with either a multiple-stage or variable-speed technology. This technology enables your air conditioning appliance to precisely adjust its cooling output to match your cooling requirements at any particular time. They’re designed to run at lower speeds for much longer, enabling them to supply higher comfort levels to your dwelling. Running longer may seem somewhat wasteful, but it’s consuming less energy by running at much lower speeds. Besides, longer cycles allow your air conditioning appliance to eliminate more moisture from your air plus supply uniform temperatures all through your dwelling. On the other hand, many 14-SEER air conditioning appliances utilize single-stage technology, which pretty much means your AC appliance can only cool under a single speed; full crank. Single-stage systems are not actually capable of providing similar comfort levels as 16 SEER AC appliances as they cool your house in short bursts, resulting in uneven temperatures plus far less dehumidification. If you are able to, go for a 16 SEER AC appliance.

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