2023 Seer Standards & Their Impact on Homeowners

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If your Chester County home is due for an HVAC replacement in the next few months, it is important to understand how the new SEER standards for 2023 may affect your purchase options. Created by the U.S. Department of Energy, the seasonal energy efficiency ratio describes how much energy is used to keep your home cool during the summer cooling season. It is a useful metric to compare the efficiency of different brands and models of air conditioners. The 2023 SEER standards will require more efficiency for newly manufactured systems, plus it will be introducing a new rating system.

The New SEER Requirements for 2023

Starting on January 1, 2023, all newly manufactured air conditioning systems will need to meet higher minimum SEER requirements. Heat pumps will also receive new minimum HSPF ratings, and furnaces must meet slightly higher AFUE ratings. Each region of the country, as identified by the Department of Energy, will have different requirements. In Pennsylvania and the rest of the North region, the new requirements will be:

• Air conditioners: Minimum SEER ratings will increase from 13 to 14 SEER.
• Heat pumps: Minimum HSPF ratings will increase from 8.2 to 8.8 HSPF, and SEER will increase from 14 to 15.
• Furnaces: Minimum AFUE ratings will increase from 80% to 81% AFUE.

In the North, HVAC companies can continue installing equipment that meets the older standard until the existing inventory is exhausted. In the South and Southwest, all equipment must meet the new higher standards for installations after January 1.

The Introduction of SEER2 Ratings

In 2023, a new rating system will also be introduced. SEER2, EER2, and HSPF2 ratings will better reflect the real-world performance of HVAC equipment. These ratings will be featured on all the new Energy Guide stickers for 2023, and they can only be compared properly to other equipment with SEER2, EER2, or HSPF2 ratings. Here is how the new and old rating systems differ:

• An air conditioner rated at 14 SEER will have a 13.4 SEER2 rating.
• An air conditioner rated at 12.2 EER will have a 11.7 EER2 rating.
• A heat pump rated at 8.8 will have a 7.5 HSPF2 rating.

Equipment installed after January 1 must meet the 2023 SEER rating, not the SEER2 rating.

What the SEER Changes Mean for You

If you need to upgrade your HVAC system soon, you may have to buy more efficient equipment than you had planned. That means it will cost more initially, but you will save money on your energy bills over the system’s life span. If you act quickly, you may be able to install an HVAC system from the existing inventory, meaning it may not be quite as efficient, but you will pay less upfront.

HVAC Installation & Replacement in Chester County, PA

Are you ready to upgrade the HVAC system in your Chester County home? Call our team at Mattioni Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. We offer HVAC installations and replacements throughout the area, as well as complete HVAC maintenance and repair services. Our family-owned HVAC company has been serving Pennsylvania homeowners since 1948. We provide friendly and trustworthy service from skilled, NATE-certified technicians. We can discuss your heating and cooling options and recommend the best system for your budget. We feature free estimates for HVAC replacements, upfront pricing, and great specials and coupons to help you save money on our services.

Call (610) 400-8510 today or contact us online to schedule an HVAC replacement anywhere in Chester County.