What are central air conditioner brand ratings? Find out now.

What's your central air conditioner brand rating? There are a large number of HVAC brands that can provide home cooling for your apartment or house. When comparing air conditioner brands, it's important to look at the efficiency the models. Central air conditioner brand ratings can be used to determine which AC units are suitable for your needs.

Central Air Conditioner

Central air conditioner brand ratings are based primarily on the SEER rating of the units. A SEER rating is the seasonal energy efficiency ratio of the unit. This ratio is determined by the cooling output of the unit in BTUs during a particular season, which is divided by the amount of electric energy supplied to the unit during the same time period.

For example, an air conditioner that puts out 5,000 BTUs an hour and uses 1,500 watts would have a SEER ratio of 10 BTU per watt-hour.

The higher the SEER rating of a unit, the more energy efficient that unit is. When you wish to compare central air conditioner brand ratings, a quick glance at the SEER for the unit will give you a general idea of how efficient that particular model is.

Brand ranges tend to have multiple AC units available, though, with SEER ratings that vary by model. To determine the rating of the brand overall, you should average the SEER across all models by adding together the individual SEERs and then dividing the total by the number of models available. This total is known as the fleet efficiency of the brand, and it provides a number that can be used for direct brand comparisons.

Central Air Conditioner BrandCentral air conditioner brand ratings based on SEER give you a quick comparison point between individual units. Older units will typically have lower SEER ratings, with some falling below 10. Newer residential units must follow the 2006 law that demands that air conditioners in the United States have a SEER rating of 13 or higher. Units looking to obtain the ENERGY STAR rating must have a SEER of 14 or higher.

The higher the rating of your chosen unit, the more you'll save in cooling costs. For example, you'll save 30 percent in power costs by using a unit with a SEER of 13 instead of one with a SEER of nine. Newer units are available with SEER ratings of over 20, but this additional efficiency comes attached to substantially higher air conditioner prices.

If you choose to install an air conditioner with a high SEER rating, you'll need the assistance of a contractor experienced in handling HVAC units. Contractors in your local area can be found through the listings available at QualitySmith

Prior to installing the AC in a manner that meets the warranty needs for the unit; a contractor should give you an air conditioner estimate that includes the installation and running costs as well as the unit cost. This info will help you choose the brand and model you wish to install based on the available SEER ratings.

Using SEER central air conditioner brand ratings and the fleet efficiency, you should be able to make a knowledgeable choice about the model and brand that you wish to install.