14-SEER vs. 18-SEER: Is the More Efficient AC Worth the Price?

Looking at installing a new air conditioner and stuck wondering if the higher-priced, 18-SEER option is worth the higher price?

Yes, we believe it’s worth it. But not because of the energy savings alone. In fact, you’ll be lucky to break even with energy savings from the 18-SEER (more on that later).

But energy savings is not the real reason we’d recommend the 18-SEER air conditioner anyway. We recommend them because...

An 18 SEER has a couple of features that a 14-SEER AC doesn’t:

• 2-stage compressor

• Variable-speed blower

These features improve the energy efficiency of the air conditioner and help it reach 18-SEER. But they also improve your home’s comfort.

You see, old air conditioners (and lower-efficiency units like a 14-SEER) only have one speed: on. When they’re not on, they’re off. But that means they turn on and off a lot when the weather is mild.

And that leads to some common problems like:

• Uneven cooling. Since the air conditioner doesn’t run long and quickly shuts off, it doesn’t mix the air in your home very well. This leads to uncomfortable hot and cold spots in your house.

• Uncomfortable humidity. To remove humidity, your AC needs to run for long periods of time. Shorter cycles with a 14-SEER won’t remove much humidity, leaving your home feeling sticky and uncomfortable.

The 2-stage compressor and variable-speed blower in an 18-SEER system fix these problems. They let the air conditioner work at lower, more efficient speeds up to 80% of the time.

Find out more in our article, Two-Stage vs. Single-Stage Air Conditioners for Florida.

So now that you know the real reason we’d recommend an 18-SEER AC over a 14-SEER, let’s look at what you can expect in terms of energy savings...

FPL estimates that the energy savings between 14-SEER and 18-SEER is $160/year (assuming both are 3-ton units).

In Southwest Florida, the purchase price difference between 18-SEER air conditioner and the minimum 14-SEER AC is about $2,500 (again, both are 3-ton units).

Assuming you qualify for the $300 federal tax credit with the purchase of the 18-SEER unit, the overall difference is reduced to $2,200.

So a 3-ton, 18-SEER air conditioner would pay for itself around the 14-year mark ($2,200 difference divided by $160/year savings =13.75 years).

But, in our experience, air conditioners in Florida last only 8-12 years. So you’ll get close to breaking even, but won’t save any money over the lifetime of the 18-SEER.

Disclaimer: These are averages for illustration purposes. The actual cost of an air conditioner depends on many factors.

Advanced Air serves the air conditioning needs of Southwest Florida, including Naples, Fort Myers, Port Charlotte and more!

Contact us for more information or schedule a free estimate on a new unit today!

Further reading:

• The Homeowner’s Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Money-Saving Air Conditioner Installation

• Stupid Simple Central Air Conditioner Buying Guide for Florida Homes

• Do You Know How Much a New Central Air Conditioner Could Save You?