04-23-2006, 03:28 AM
general rule of thumb...a unit with a SEER rating of 11.7 will use @10% less electricity than one of SEER 10.7. So a cheap SEER 9.x something will use over 20% more electricity than a unit in the high 11s. I think this is the last year they can sell one with a SEER below 10.0
The cheap ones in the long run will cost you more if you add in the electricity over the next couple of years. The flip side, is that the energy savings alone will make back the purchase price after a few years.
I just double checked another source, and according to them, a SEER 12 saves 17% energy costs over a SEER 10 of the same size. That can be over a hundred bucks a short summer easy.
The cheap ones in the long run will cost you more if you add in the electricity over the next couple of years. The flip side, is that the energy savings alone will make back the purchase price after a few years.
I just double checked another source, and according to them, a SEER 12 saves 17% energy costs over a SEER 10 of the same size. That can be over a hundred bucks a short summer easy.