The new year is approaching, and for many of us that means some serious changes. Whether it’s getting into a different routine, or taking some well-deserved vacations, 2023 will be here faster than you think! This means that we need to talk about a very specific topic for our inquisitive customers, or customers that might be in the market for a new air conditioner. Systems are likely to become a lot more efficient and expensive come 2023.
Today, we’re going to be talking about SEER2, which is the new set of efficiency standards for modern air conditioning systems. All AC units are going to need to meet these new standards, so it’s important that you know what they are so you’re expecting the 30-50% price hike for air conditioning installations.
For residents in Sanford, FL, this change is going to be a big deal, and we’re going to tell you all about it.
Southeast Region SEER Requirements
As the new federal legislation passes and changes the market, the results differ depending on where you live. For homeowners in the Pacific Northwest, for instance, will have much different HVAC requirements from those of us living in Florida. The trick is to figure out what you need to know for your location, and plan accordingly.
Most residential AC units (those below 45,000 Btu) must have a SEER rating of 14.3 or above. This means that it will be virtually impossible to purchase a system with a SEER rating of anything below that, and for good reason. This will lead to a huge improvement in our energy efficiency standards and save customers money down the line, while our infrastructure is upgraded to handle the new power draw.
Here’s a tip: The higher the SEER rating, the better. If you can only afford an air conditioner with a SEER rating of 13 or below, then we advise you to replace your air conditioner before the new year so you’re not affected by these new standards.
AC Standards
Residential air conditioners are going to be affected by this change differently from heat pumps. As we mentioned above, most normal sized air conditioning units (below 45,000 Btu) will require a 14.3 SEER rating or above. After January 1st, 2023, a system with a lower SEER rating won’t be able to be installed.
Heat Pump Standards
For heat pumps, things are a bit different. Heat pumps must meet two demands–the SEER2 rating and the HSPF2 rating.
Heat pumps must have a SEER2 rating of 14.3 and an HSPF2 rating of 7.5 in order to qualify for installation. These metrics are not hard to reach, but they’re new standards to ensure that all heat pump systems installed after January first are high efficiency.
What This Means
This means two things.
The first point of this blog post is that our lives are about to get a lot more efficient. For customers looking to save money on energy bills, and with more disposable income to spend on air conditioning, these new regulations will likely revolutionize the AC industry and lead to more energy-efficient models in the future, at lower prices.
The second point is that for those who are on a tight budget, things are about to get a lot more expensive. We urge customers to purchase new air conditioners before the new year so they’re not affected by this jump in price.
Contact Facemyer Air Conditioning and Heating to invest in a new air conditioner, or for SEER2 guidelines.