Asheville NC Custom Builder explains SEER Ratings

SEER stands for the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The higher the SEER rating of a unit, the more energy efficient it is. The SEER rating is the Btu of cooling output during a typical cooling-season divided by the total electric energy. SEER is determined in a laboratory setting to rate the efficiency of the equipment only. It is also important to remember that SEER is only speaking to the efficiency of the cooling capacity of the HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) In the home or small office with a handful of computers, HVAC is more for human comfort than the machines. In large data centers, a humidity-free room with a steady, cool temperature is essential for the trouble-free equipment. There are other components of an HVAC system that also affect the efficiency of the system. Think of it this way: You could buy a Toyota Prius that is rated to get 55mpg, but if you load it down with 5 people, poke a few holes in the gas tank, and never change the fuel filter, you'll be fortunate to get 25mpg.

Duct leakage also results in a large decrease in your system's overall efficiency. What would happen to the system's efficiency if it was pulling thirty percent of its return air from the attic, instead of the living space? Do you think it would cause the efficiency to go down? You bet! What if your supply duct work was losing 25 percent of its air into the attic or crawl space? What would this do to the efficiency of your system? This equates to having a hole in the gas tank of your Toyota Prius--not a good idea. Duct leakage also decreases (IAQ) Indoor Air Quality considerably by pulling in air from unhealthy places.

Studies show that less than two percent of residential HVAC systems have been properly air-balanced. The average residential HVAC system performs at 50 to 65 percent of its rated efficiency, due to the imbalance of airflow, excessive duct leakage, lack of insulation, and improper charge. This means that your brand new 19 SEER unit that is installed onto improperly designed ductwork may be performing at a 9.5 to 12.5 SEER Rating. Advantage Development Co. has third party experts that verify the quality of construction that goes into your new custom home, assuring that every system operates to peak performance thus saving you the most energy. Visit us today at http://www.advdevco.com/ and see why we should be your next builder in Asheville, NC and surrounding Western North Carolina.