Glossary
SEER Rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio)
Definition
A SEER rating measures the cooling efficiency of air conditioners and heat pumps over a typical cooling season. Higher SEER numbers mean greater efficiency: a SEER 16 unit costs roughly 20% less to operate than a SEER 13 unit. Federal minimums are SEER 14-15 depending on region, while premium units reach SEER 25+.
Understanding SEER Rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio)
SEER is calculated by dividing the total cooling output (in BTUs) over a season by the total electrical energy input (in watt-hours). Homeowners should know their SEER rating because it directly affects utility bills and because aging equipment loses efficiency over time. Shipshape tracks HVAC efficiency trends and alerts homeowners when performance degrades, often catching issues months before a full system failure.
Related Terms
Home Health Score
A Home Health Score is a 0-100 numerical rating that represents the overall condition of a home's critical systems. Generated by Shipshape's AI after a Home Health Assessment, it gives homeowners and service professionals a clear, at-a-glance view of what needs attention now, what can wait, and what is in good shape.
Proactive Home Maintenance
Proactive home maintenance is the practice of monitoring, inspecting, and servicing home systems before they fail, rather than waiting for breakdowns to occur. According to U.S. Department of Energy data, proactive maintenance reduces repair costs by up to 40% compared to reactive approaches.
BTU (British Thermal Unit)
A BTU is the standard unit of measurement for heating and cooling capacity. One BTU is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. HVAC systems are rated in BTUs per hour to indicate how much heating or cooling they can deliver.
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