When it comes to selling air conditioning and heating equipment, knowledge is power. Homeowners and companies are better informed than ever before, and efficiency comes first when choosing a system. For Canadian HVAC dealers, describing efficiency ratings like SEER2, HSPF2, and AFUE is what will take a lost lead to a closed sale.

At Airtek, we offer HVAC dealers everything from furnaces and accessories to heat pumps and air conditioners. To help you earn the trust of your customers and boost sales, here's an overview of the most important efficiency ratings in HVAC—and how to use them in your sales conversation.

What Is SEER2

SEER2 is Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 2. It's more modern than the older SEER rating designed to better predict how efficient a heat pump or air conditioner will be in the cooling mode.

Higher SEER2 = Higher efficiency = Lower energy bills

Average range: 14.3 SEER2 and above for new equipment

Required by new federal standards in 2023

How to leverage it in sales:
When discussing with customers, emphasize long-term savings: "This more efficient SEER2 system will cost a bit more initially, but it will pay for itself in lower hydro bills." 

What Is HSPF2?

HSPF2 = Heating Seasonal Performance Factor 2
Rates heat pump heating efficiency over an entire season

Higher HSPF2 = More efficient heating

Average range: 7.5 to 10 HSPF2 for cold-climate heat pumps

Critical to Canadian winters, especially in Manitoba, Quebec, and Ontario

How to apply it to selling:
Paraphrase it in performance terms: "This unit has a superior HSPF2 rating, which is equal to more heat delivered per dollar spent on electricity used—especially important in Canadian winters."

What Is AFUE?

AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. It applies to gas and oil furnaces, referring to what percentage of fuel is consumed into usable heat.

96% AFUE furnace = 96 cents of every fuel dollar becomes heat

Higher AFUE = Lower wasted energy

Many Canadian rebate programs require 95%+ AFUE furnaces

How to use it in sales:
Focus on cost and rebates: “With a 96% AFUE furnace, you’ll get maximum efficiency and qualify for available energy rebates.”

Why These Ratings Matter for Dealers

To know these ratings isn't just to know numbers—it's about building confidence in your customer. When you can explain efficiency ratings readily and show how they translate into real dollars saved, you become the one expert they wish to conduct business with.

✅ Guiding customer decisions

✅ Lowers perceived cost of high-efficiency systems

✅ Opens doors to rebate eligibility discussions

✅ Dissolves price objections through long-term savings

How Airtek Can Help You Sell Smarter

It's simple for Canadian HVAC dealers to inventory and sell systems efficient enough for today's standards at Airtek:

High-efficiency heat pumps with SEER2 and HSPF2 ratings that qualify for rebates

96%+ AFUE furnaces that accommodate cold Canadian winters

Smart thermostats and accessories to optimize efficiency even further

Dealer support through AHRI matches, rebate data, and product recommendations

Final Thoughts

SEER2, HSPF2, and AFUE ratings may sound like mumbo-jumbo at first, but to HVAC dealers, they're unbeatable closers. Reducing these ratings to plain terms displays your customers the value of high-efficiency systems—and displays you how to close more sales.

Ready to stock up on high-efficiency HVAC equipment? Shop our catalog at airtekshop.com
and deliver your customers the performance, savings, and comfort they're demanding.