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If you are new to the world of indoor cooling, you may wonder what is SACC in an air conditioner. Even the best air conditioners, after all, feature some sort of SACC rating on the packaging and marketing materials. So what is SACC, what does it stand for, and how does it measure the efficacy of an AC unit? Keep reading to find out.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Just like when you wonder what is SEER in an air conditioner, SACC is another acronym that refers to efficacy. SACC, or the Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity, rates air conditioner performance in a number of test conditions. If you worry that your air conditioner tonnage is too small, a SACC rating can give you an answer. The same holds true if you are comparing a swamp cooler vs an air conditioner.
Insider Tip
Make sure to change out the washable filter as indicated by the manufacturer, even with a high SACC rating.
SACC ratings came into effect in 2017, replacing a different standard (ASHRAE.) They show results in British Thermal Units (BTUs) and are fantastic at gauging AC unit efficiency if you wonder about the best air conditioner size for a 14×70 mobile home.
With SACC ratings, high numbers are best. Also, SACC tests are extreme, putting the AC unit through wild conditions that normal consumers would typically not encounter. Still, here are the benefits of snagging an air conditioning unit with a high SACC rating.
STAT: BTU stands for British Thermal Units and is a way of measuring energy. One BTU refers to the amount of energy that’s required to increase the temperature of a pound of water by 1° F. (source)
If you worry that your AC can’t handle the regulation demands of your room or home, look toward the SACC rating. A high rating indicates that the air conditioner will succeed no matter how hot the external temperature gets. After all, the rigorous tests an AC goes through to come up with a SACC rating include dealing with some extremely hot temperatures.
The SACC tests are extreme, putting AC units in nasty conditions on both ends of the temperature spectrum. If an AC passes these tests with flying colors, you can be relatively certain it is a durable design that will last for many seasons and years to come.
SACC ratings also test a unit’s overall construction, in addition to performance. So if you want a solid unit made with high-grade materials, pay special attention to that rating before making a purchase. This will save you money in the long run.
F.A.Q.S
Why did it change?
The ruling changed to give a more adequate sense of an AC’s actual efficacy and takes every component into account, from the remote control to the power cord to the hose (portable or not) and more.
Does it only affect portable AC units?
It started with the portable air conditioner, but now the SACC rating applies to various types that extend beyond the aforementioned portable unit and into the realm of the window air conditioner and more.
How does this labeling affect me?
It gives you a better sense of the average performance when you are shopping for a portable air conditioner, a window air conditioner, a window kit, and more.
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