If you’re looking for a new air conditioning unit, or HVAC equipment, you’re probably inundated with questions about energy efficiency and pricing. At LIBERTYAIR, we want to help you make the right choice in cooling your home during Florida’s harsh summer heat. The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) defines the SEasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) to rate the efficiency of air conditioners. In general, the SEER Rating is a number that takes into account the cooling output of a unit and the total electrical energy input during a season. Higher SEER Rating numbers usually indicate a more energy-efficient unit. To get the cooling output, you have to do some math. In Florida, you can determine the SEER Rating using the ratio of cooling in BTU to the energy that is consumed in watt-hours. However, most units come with a SEER Rating attached, so many homeowners, landlords and property owners just go by the numbers — higher rating = more efficient cooling.

In the United States, the federal government has mandated that central air conditioning equipment should have a rating of at least 13 or higher. Higher SEER Rating numbers can result in lower operating costs during the life cycle of an A/C or HVAC unit. Air conditioning units that use energy more efficiently cost less to operate, and they are also better for the environment. But the higher ratings do come at a price. An A/C unit with a SEER-23 is going to cost more initially than a unit with a SEER-13. Over time, you will see the savings in your monthly utility bills. However, you should be purchasing A/C units with a SEER Rating that makes sense for your location and seasonal weather. Higher SEER Ratings aren’t needed in cooler climates, like Maine for instance, because the cooling season is shorter than other areas in the United States. But if you live in Florida, Texas, Georgia, or Arizona, you’re going to want a higher SEER Rating. But there’s an inherent issue with SEER Ratings: the number doesn’t give consumers an overall picture of efficiency.

Well, to arrive at a SEER Rating for each air conditioning unit, a baseline temperature of 82 degrees is used. That might sound like a typical summer day in Wisconsin or Pennsylvania, but the average high temperatures in Florida in July hit well into the 90s. That can put some doubt on whether an air conditioner can still be as energy efficient as the SEER Rating touts. And Florida isn’t the only state where consumers could be getting less than what they are led to believe. In July, the average high temperature for Houston, Texas, is 94 degrees, and in Las Vegas, temps reach an average of 104 degrees. There’s no way a unit is going to have the same efficient output in 104 degree weather as in 82 degree weather. Now, before you claim that SEER Ratings are sham, it’s important to note that the ratings really do help you determine the efficiency of a unit. But if you live in an area where temperatures reach extreme highs, or in locations where you might run the air conditioner throughout the year, then the minimum SEER Rating may not be as efficient as you think.

In Florida, and other heated states of the South and Southwest, it’s probably a good idea to choose an A/C unit with the highest rating you can afford. SEER-16 is a good choice for Florida, and ratings go all the way up to SEER-23.how to build a deck around an ac unit If you need help determining which type of air conditioning unit is best for your home or business, ask the professionals at LIBERTYAIR.indoor floor ac unitWe are a website that is committed to providing you the most in-depth portable air conditioner reviews of the most popular brands in the United States and around the World. split ac units cheapThis page is dedicated to portable AC’s mainly because that is where we have most of our experience. Our goal is to educate while helping you purchase the most suitable machine for your home.

That way you can stay cool and comfortable all summer long. If you’ve taken a look at the manufacturers available at Amazon, Sylvayne, Air & Water etc. you will quickly notice that there are a lot of different brands and styles to choose from. If this is your first time searching for a portable unit, then terms like “BTU” and “R410a refrigerant” may be a little confusing at the moment. However, don’t worry because we cover as much as we can about these machines in our buyers guide and reviews which can be viewed below. *(for direct access to our reviews, see the menu above, or see below.) Before you can embark on your search, you need to understand a little bit about your room. How big is it? Where is the sun located? How many people are regularly in the room? Are you in a kitchen? Are there a lot of electronics in the room that produce heat? Knowing these things in advance is crucial for making sure you purchase the right machine for your environment. Portable AC’s are fairly heavy and some don’t have handles to make it easy to relocate.

So be sure to do enough research because it’s not an item you really want to have to return. Once you understand a little more about your room and you know how many BTU’s you’re looking for, you can then start narrowing down your selection. Top brands to keep an eye out for include; Whynter, Honeywell, Sharp, LG, Frigidaire & Toyotomi. Whynter is a well known appliance company in the United States who is regarded as one of the best and most reliable AC manufacturers. They have a wide range of options to choose from, although depending on when you purchase they can be a bit pricey. Click here for a full breakdown and review of the Whynter ARC-14SH. Honeywell is another well known American manufacturer who’s portable AC selection is starting to grow. They have excellent “low noise” single hose units, as well as dual hoses that work even more efficient, but a little bit louder. (*Honeywell’s dual hose machines have yet to hit the US market.) Read a detailed and informative review of the Honeywell MN12CES.

Toyotomi is a brand that’s manufactured in Japan and is probably a name you wouldn’t pay much attention to. Especially if you were basing part of your decision on visual appearance. This brand outperforms many in it’s class and is actually one on the most durable units we’ve ever used. Get an in depth review on the Toyotomi TAD-T40LW. If you’re a business looking to find a cooling solution for your office or server room, then you might want to move your focus away from consumer units and towards the industrial brands. Commercial sized units are the best portable air conditioner machines for cooling a large space where noise level isn’t much of an issue. Your average home based machine will normally reach up to 14,000 BTU, although when using an industrial machine you can expect your BTU’s to reach as high as 100,000 or more (roughly 3,500 sq ft. of space). A few major differences between commercial portable air conditioner units and consumer units include overall noise, size, power consumption and coverage area.