Seer Ratings For Heat Pumps [top] -
Chen laughed. “SEER is for summer. You bought a Ferrari for cooling and a golf cart for heating. I bought a Subaru—less sexy in July, but it climbs every winter hill.” The Martins learned the hard truth, which you can now learn for free:
is a measure of cooling output divided by electric input over a typical summer. Higher SEER (16–20+) is great for hot climates like Florida or Texas. seer ratings for heat pumps
| What High SEER Tells You | What High SEER Hides | | :--- | :--- | | Excellent summer cooling efficiency | Nothing about heating performance | | Lower peak electric demand in July | Could mean a weaker, single-stage compressor that struggles in winter | | Qualifies for some energy rebates (summer-focused) | May have terrible HSPF (heating efficiency) | Chen laughed
Here’s the twist the Martins missed: It’s like judging a winter coat by how well it works in a rainstorm. I bought a Subaru—less sexy in July, but
The Martins were sold. The install was clean. That August, the house felt like a wine cellar. Their electric bill dropped 30% compared to the window units. Mark posted a smug photo on Facebook: “Go big or go home. 22 SEER. #Winning.”