How Do You Calculate SEER?

Do you even know what that means, even if you do know how to calculate it?

Cooling BTUs and the amount of electricity a cooling unit uses per hour are crucial when determining a unit’s SEER ratings. An inefficient unit will have less cooling capacity/power (indicated by the cooling BTUs) and use up more watts of electricity per hour during the summer.

And buying the proper size unit for the size of your home is vital. If you purchase a unit that is more than you really need (in other words, too big), you are merely spending more money than necessary and it will not cool your house better or more efficiently. Read more on the subject of the correct size unit for your home here: https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=roomac.pr_properly_sized.

Back to the question – How do you calculate SEER?

BTUs/hr x 1,000 hr  /  Watts/hr x 1,000 hr  =  SEER

Simply stated, SEER stands for the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This is a measure of any cooling system’s cooling efficiency over the course of a season of use – be it an air conditioner or heat pump. That is, how efficiently the system cools your home.

Frigidaire’s air conditioners and heat pumps offer a range of efficiency options – all the way up to 25.5 SEER! This means that there is a cooling system that suits any budget or need. An air conditioner may cost more if it is a higher SEER, but you will have a greater potential to save money on utilities if you install a cooling system with high SEER ratings, in the long run.

Investing in Efficiency Can Save Money –

Although the techy details aren’t as important, it is always good to know why a high-efficiency unit will have a higher SEER ratings. A more efficient system will have more power behind it while using less electricity. This is why investing in a high-SEER system can pay off in utility savings over the life of your HVAC system. Your cooling unit will use less energy and give you more power. Old, inefficient units from the past may only be rated at 10 SEER. This means that simply upgrading to a budget-friendly 14-SEER air conditioner or heat pump, which is the minimum SEER rating required by the government for the Southwest United States, can have money-saving performance benefits when installed correctly.

We are always ready and available to answer any questions you may have on this subject. The hot summer weather is just around the corner. Be prepared with the best knowledge and don’t overspend if you don’t have to.

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

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We are all so busy these days. Laundry is something that seems to keep piling up with no end in sight. We want to get it done as quickly as possible and get in and out of the laundry room so we can enjoy the sunshine of Arizona. It’s easy to become complacent and overlook simple steps which keep things running smoothly in the laundry, conserve energy and keep your family safe. Sometimes these simple steps seem so minor, we feel like they cannot really make a big difference in our lives. But they really do help and can prevent trouble prematurely, like having to replace your washer and dryer earlier than expected. 

• Run the washing machine only when it has a full load.
• Inspect washing machine hoses for signs of wear. Replace rubber hoses with stainless steel braided hoses. (Available from your Marlin Service Tech.) They last longer and are resistant to leaks and cracks.
• Ensure that all drains have strainers to keep hair, soap and debris from entering and clogging the drain lines.
• Use a strainer on your washing machine hose. Marlin has strainers specially designed to fit laundry hoses.
• Check exposed pipes under sinks for signs of leaks.
• Apply an enzyme drain cleaner (available from Marlin Services) to laundry drain lines once each month to keep lint and detergent scum from building up and causing clogs.
• To prevent sewer gases from backing up into your home through your laundry sink drain or other infrequently used drains, periodically pour a bucket of water down the drain to keep the trap seal full.
• Install a flood alarm to warn of water from the washing machine or water heater leaking from the appliance or overflowing sinks.
• Conserve energy and prevent scalding by checking the temperature setting on your water heater. It should not be above 120 degrees Fahrenheit or medium setting on older models.
• Consider replacing a worn out washing machine with a more efficient front-load model.
• Never store flammable liquids such as gasoline, adhesives or solvents near the water heater, furnace or other gas-fired appliance as they may ignite.

You don’t want to be in the market for a new washer and dryer very often. The average life span is somewhere between 12 and 13 years. Follow these simple tips and maybe you can extend the life of these appliances even longer.

For more information on how we can help you save BIG this season, contact us NOW: (602) 470-1040

Connect With Us at Marlin Services