A Homeowner’s Guide to SEER2 Ratings

When you’re shopping for a new air conditioner, you may be tempted to only look at the price tag. But the number on the yellow EnergyGuide sticker dictates what you’ll pay every month of cooling season for as long as you keep that unit. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the SEER or SEER2 rating of an air conditioner.

What Is a SEER Rating?

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Think of it like the miles-per-gallon rating on your car. It measures your air conditioner’s efficiency by taking the total cooling output of an AC and dividing it by its total energy usage over a typical summer season. The higher the number, the less electricity it uses to keep the house cool.

Older AC units installed 10 to 15 years ago often operate at a lower rating, around 10 to 13 SEER.

SEER vs. SEER2

In 2023, the Department of Energy updated the rules for measuring the efficiency of new HVAC units. This led to the new SEER2 standard, which uses more realistic testing conditions to provide a more accurate measure of efficiency than the original SEER.

Because the SEER2 test is stricter, the numbers are slightly lower than the old SEER ratings. You can convert a SEER rating to SEER2 by dividing the SEER number by 1.05. This will provide an estimate of the unit’s SEER2 rating. For example, a 16 SEER unit is approximately 15.2 SEER2.

Minnesota’s SEER2 Standards

The U.S. is split into three regions for energy efficiency compliance. Minnesota lies in the North Region, which has a minimum SEER2 rating of 13.4 for new residential central air conditioners. Heat pumps must have a rating of at least 14.3 SEER2.

Is Upgrading to a Higher SEER2 Worth the Cost?

The higher the number of your system’s SEER2 rating, the lower your monthly energy bill will be during the cooling season. But higher SEER2 ratings also generally come with a bigger price tag. And since Minnesota summers are significantly shorter than those in the South, units on the highest end of the SEER2 scale may take longer to pay for themselves in energy savings.

For most homes in Minnesota, we recommend an air conditioner with a SEER2 rating of 15 to 18. This range presents a good balance of reasonable upfront cost and a significant drop in utility bills.

However, higher SEER2 tiers may unlock local utility rebates and up to $600 in federal tax credits.

The SEER2 Ratings of Bryant® Air Conditioners

As a factory-authorized dealer of Bryant® HVAC equipment, Hanson’s Plumbing & Heating offers a range of cooling systems to match different budgets and comfort goals.



• Legacy™ Line: This cost-efficient line offers single-stage cooling up to 16.5 SEER2. It’s ideal for cabins or homeowners wanting lower upfront costs.
• Preferred™ Series: Often considered the balanced sweet spot, this series offers two-stage cooling up to 18 SEER2.
• Evolution™ System: Reaching up to 21 SEER2, this system uses variable-speed technology to match your home’s cooling needs while using as little energy as possible.

Make an Informed Choice with Hanson’s

SEER2 ratings aren’t as confusing as they seem. Just remember that a higher SEER2 rating means better energy efficiency. If you’re shopping for a new air conditioner, contact the team at Hanson’s for personalized assistance. We’ll help you determine the best system to meet your needs.