When you are talking the language of central air conditioner ratings you are usually talking about the SEER. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. The SEER is most often used to as a measure of efficiency ratings in central air conditioners in a residential setting. In a commercial setting a EER ratings system is more often used which stands for Energy Efficiency Rating.
There is also a third rating system used for air conditioners call the “fleet efficiency” and that is an average of all the models that a particular company sells. So unless a company sells only central air conditioners, the Fleet Efficiency will not give you a good measurement of that companies central air conditioner ratings.
It is important to note that the SEER or any other central air conditioner rating system that is related to energy efficiency does not tell you anything about the material quality or lifetime durability of a given central air conditioner. As well, like in the previous example, the fleet efficiency on one specific model from one company does not mean that it is any better than another model from another company with a lesser fleet efficiency rating. This is because you are comparing two averages and not these two central air conditioner ratings in particular.
So to repeat, if you are comparing two central air conditioner ratings, you need to use the SEER and not the fleet efficiency.
Now here is an interesting fact about central air conditioner ratings that may put a little twist on on how you look at things when you go shopping if you are like the majority of people. Remember how I mentioned that the SEER is an energy rating and has no bearing on the quality or durability of the model? Well if you are like most of the people polled in a 2002 study, you would rank the efficiency of your central air conditioner in number three position behind reliability and durability respectively. Efficiency beat warranty and comfort in fourth and fifth.
It’s interesting because the most prominent central air conditioner ratings method does not take into account the top two things that most people care about.
An Important Note On Central Air Conditioner Ratings.
Central air conditioners need to be installed. They need to be installed by professionals. Just like anything else, the quality of the installation and thus the efficiency ratings will in large part be dependant on the quality of the installation.
Also, because there are more parts and components involved in the entire central air conditioner system than simple small units, the efficiency ratings will decline or stay true depending on the maintenance that the system is given over time. This brings you to factoring in the effort involved in proper care and if you’ll get it done or not.
In my opinion the best central air conditioner ratings you can get will not be the professional ratings systems at all because those organizations do not buy, install and test all the central air conditioner systems out there and then run them over the long haul as maintaining them becomes a factor. Instead, I would suggest asking people who have central air conditioner systems in person and getting into online discussions and product reviews from those that are living with and using their central air conditioner systems every day.
When you get online looking around, try to find sites like consumers digest and look for awards. You can then dig through and find the ratings they have given the different aspects of central air conditioners. Maybe to you economy is important and will look in the “best buy”. Then again you may want to look for something that has been given lots of stars for “low maintenance”.