SEER2 is miles per gallon for cooling
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It’s the cooling a system delivers over a typical season divided by the electricity it uses to do it. Like miles per gallon, a higher number means the system does the same work on less energy.
Why the “2”?
In 2023 the U.S. Department of Energy changed how systems are tested. The new procedure, SEER2, runs equipment against more realistic duct resistance, closer to what it faces in a real home. The same equipment scores a little lower under SEER2 than it did under the old SEER test, so a SEER2 number and an older SEER number aren’t directly comparable.
The minimums in Washington
The Department of Energy sets minimum efficiency by region. Washington is in the northern region, where a new central air conditioner must be at least 13.4 SEER2 and a new heat pump at least 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. Most systems sold today land above those floors, and the top tiers go well past 20 SEER2.
HSPF2 does the same job for heating
Heat pumps carry a second rating, HSPF2 (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor). It measures how efficiently the heat pump heats your home over a season. Higher is better. Gas furnaces are rated by AFUE instead: the share of the fuel’s energy that becomes heat in your home. A 96% AFUE furnace turns 96 cents of every fuel dollar into heat.
How to compare systems
- Compare like with like. Look at SEER2 against SEER2, not against an old SEER number on your current unit’s label.
- Higher ratings cost more up front and less to run. The payback depends on how hard your system works. Long Tri-Cities summers make cooling efficiency count.
- Efficiency also depends on the install. A system that’s the wrong size, or connected to leaky ductwork, won’t reach its rated efficiency. Sizing and ductwork matter as much as the rating on the label.
- Comfort features come with the higher tiers. Variable-speed equipment runs longer at lower output, which evens out temperatures, removes more humidity and runs more quietly.
What Dayco installs
The Trane systems in our instant quote range from 14.3 SEER2 at the base tier to more than 20 SEER2 at the top tier, and the quote shows the SEER2, HSPF2 and AFUE ratings for each option. If you’re not sure which tier makes sense for your home, call us and we’ll talk it through.