Your St. George Heating and Cooling Experts
The federal minimum efficiency standards for new AC equipment changed in 2023, and they vary by region. Utah falls in the southern efficiency region, meaning new AC installations in Washington County must meet the 15 SEER2 minimum — not the 14 SEER2 that applies in northern states. Higher-efficiency equipment costs more upfront but reduces operating costs over the system's life. In St. George's climate with its extended cooling season, the payback on higher SEER2 equipment comes faster than it would in a market with a shorter AC season.
Homeowners in Washington County can't prioritize one HVAC system over the other. Furnace neglect creates heating season risk. AC neglect creates summer breakdown risk. The lowest long-term HVAC costs in St. George belong to homeowners who treat both systems as requiring annual attention.
The combination of 1,330 annual cooling degree days and 5,160 heating degree days means St. George homeowners depend on both systems across the year. Washington County's housing stock, with a median construction year around 1973, contains a large inventory of equipment due for evaluation or replacement.