How Much Will Your Electric Bill Go Up with a 2-Ton, 19 SEER Mini-Split?
So, you’re thinking about installing a sleek new 2-ton, 19 SEER mini-split to keep your home cool and efficient. But before that first breeze hits your living room, you’re wondering: What’s this going to do to my power bill?
Let’s break it down with real math.
First, What Is SEER?
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It’s the ratio of cooling output over an entire cooling season (in BTUs) to the electricity consumed (in watt-hours). The higher the SEER, the more efficient the system.
A 19 SEER unit is considered high-efficiency, especially compared to older systems with SEER ratings around 10–13.
What Does a 2-Ton System Mean?
“2 tons” refers to cooling capacity, not weight.
1 ton = 12,000 BTUs/hour →
2 tons = 24,000 BTUs/hour
So this mini-split system can remove 24,000 BTUs of heat per hour from your home.
Now for the Math: How Much Power Will It Use?
Let’s estimate average usage for a typical summer:
Assumptions:
- System runs 6 hours per day
- You run it for 120 days during the cooling season
- Local electricity cost = $0.14 per kWh (national average)
- System SEER = 19
- Cooling output = 24,000 BTUs/hour
Step 1: Total Cooling Output for the Season
24,000 BTUs/hour × 6 hours/day × 120 days =
17,280,000 BTUs total per season
Step 2: Energy Used (in watt-hours)
Total BTUs ÷ SEER =
17,280,000 ÷ 19 =
909,474 watt-hours or 909.5 kWh
Step 3: Total Cost
909.5 kWh × $0.14 =
$127.33 for the entire cooling season
What About Monthly Electric Bill Impact?
Divide the seasonal cost by the number of months (4):
$127.33 ÷ 4 = $31.83 per month
So, adding this 2-ton, 19 SEER mini-split to your home might raise your summer electric bill by about $30–35/month, assuming moderate use.
For Comparison: Older, Less Efficient Units
Let’s say you used a 2-ton, 10 SEER unit instead.
17,280,000 BTUs ÷ 10 = 1,728,000 watt-hours = 1,728 kWh
1,728 kWh × $0.14 = $241.92 per season
That’s almost twice the cost of running a 19 SEER unit.
Final Thoughts
Installing a high-efficiency 2-ton mini-split system will add about $130 per cooling season to your electric bill—far less than older systems. And if you’re replacing an inefficient unit, the upgrade might reduce your bills, not raise them.
If you want an exact estimate, just adjust:
- Your actual usage (how many hours a day you run it)
- Your local electricity rate
- The size of your space and insulation quality
Premier Mechanical – www.claimyourcomfort.com – 720.207.6812