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The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER, measures how much energy is required to operate the cooling system. The higher the SEER, the better the energy efficiency. Since 2023, the Department of Energy uses an updated version of the original SEER rating called SEER2. By law, new air conditioners must meet a minimum SEER rating of 15 or SEER2 rating of 13.8. It’s also recommended that home air conditioners in the Southeast have a minimum SEER of 15 or 14.2 SEER2 due to the region’s increased heat and humidity.

You can find your HVAC system’s SEER/SEER2 rating a couple of ways. Head to your outdoor unit and look for the yellow Energy Guide label. The rating will be listed there. You can also look for a piece of paper tied to your indoor unit, or if you’re still not having any luck, try looking up the model and serial number (also labeled on the unit) online or by calling the manufacturer.

The Department of Energy requires that new air conditioners meet a minimum SEER rating of 15 or 13.8 SEER2. It’s also recommended that home air conditioners in the Southeast have a minimum SEER of 15 or 14.2 SEER2 due to the region’s increased heat and humidity.

It’s a good idea to consult with one of our TVA-vetted contractors from the Quality Contractor Network. They can help you determine the right size unit and SEER2 rating for your home and budget.

With proper maintenance, the average lifespan of an HVAC system is between 15 to 20 years. But the energy efficiency of even a decade-old unit will have already considerably decreased. According to the Department of Energy, replacing a 10-year-old unit with a newer and more efficient model could save you 20% to 40% on your cooling costs.

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make when replacing their HVAC system is getting something that’s too big for the home. What many homeowners perceive as not enough cool air inside is actually due to too much indoor humidity caused by an oversized AC unit. Make sure that your system is the right size by requesting “a Manual J load calculation” for your home.

Consult a TVA-vetted contractor through our Quality Contractor Network to find out the right AC unit for your home and budget.

All the different names for heating and cooling options can be confusing, so let’s break down some of the terminology.

A central air conditioner may be the most familiar type of cooling system to you. It’s generally what most people think of when they think of an AC. If you have a central AC system that simply means your home’s air is conditioned, i.e., brought to the temperature you want, in one central location to then be distributed throughout your home through your duct system. Today, there are a wide range of central air conditioners that can help you increase your indoor comfort, air quality, and energy efficiency. Remember though, a central air system is only as good as your home’s duct system. Holes or cracks in your ductwork allow conditioned air to escape and will quickly eat up your energy savings and increase your energy bill over time. 

A heat pump is used to control your home’s indoor climate. It uses electricity to move heat from one place to another. So, in the winter, a heat pump pumps heat from outside your home into your home. In the summer, it pumps heat from inside your home out of your home. Heating and cooling your home with a heat pump is much more energy efficient than other central climate control systems that depend on a fuel source.

An air source heat pump is a type of heat pump that moves heat from inside and outside your home to control your home’s indoor temperature. Its technology is based around air temperature and heat transfer.

A mini split is a type of heat pump, only it often works without a ductwork system. (You may hear a mini split referred to as a ductless mini split, but they’re the same thing.) Typically mounted on a wall or the ceiling, a mini split pumps heat from outdoors to indoors in the winter and from indoors to outdoors in warmer temperatures. Mini splits are a great option for homes without a ductwork system and areas of the home where temperature control is challenging. They’re typically more energy efficient because you can avoid losing cool or warm air through leaky ductwork. Plus, mini splits offer flexibility because you can utilize more than one and place them in different locations around your home.

A dual fuel heat pump is a hybrid heat pump that uses electricity to move and/or produce heat with gas as a backup heat source in cold temperatures. (You may also hear it referred to as a dual source heat pump.) Its energy efficiency comes from toggling between the two sources to pump heat in or outside your home based on the temperature outside and your desired temperature inside. The heat pump portion does most of the heavy lifting by pulling heat from indoors outside. However, when temperatures get cold, the furnace portion turns fuel into heat so you can heat your home quickly.

Quiet, efficient, and able to heat and cool your home at a fraction of the cost of oil- or propane-based heating methods, the TVA Preferred Air Source Heat Pump is our go-to recommendation for efficient performance in cold weather. It may sound counterintuitive but in the winter, an air source heat pump heats your home by pulling heat from outside your home inside. Then, in the summer, heat from the inside of your home is pulled outside, cooling your home.

Typical heat pumps require additional heat strips or some type of fuel source to heat your home below the 30° F temperature set point in the winter. This can increase costs on your monthly bill. A TVA Preferred Air Source Heat Pump, however, can heat your home down to at least 17° F before auxiliary heat kicks in. This design keeps you warm and saves you money in the winter months without losing the savings and comfort of dehumidifying and cooling your home in the hot, humid summer months.

A geothermal heat pump is an alternative to an air source heat pump. Rather than heating and cooling your home using outside air (what’s known as an air source heat pump), a geothermal heat pump relies on ground temperature, which changes very little, day to day or season to season. A ground heat exchanger exchanges heat with the earth instead of the air.

While more expensive to install than other more conventional heating and cooling methods, you’ll recoup the additional cost within 5 to 10 years of installation through energy bill savings and less required maintenance. Plus, geothermal heat pumps have a lifespan of nearly 25 years (up to 50 or more years for some internal components) and are a much more energy efficient and reliable heating and cooling source.