Did you know that all furnaces have a rating that estimates overall energy efficiency? The rating was designed to help consumers make an educated decision about which furnace is best for their home. If energy efficiency is a high priority for you, you may select a model with a significantly higher energy-efficiency rating.
If you’re looking to save money, but don’t want to compromise too much on energy efficiency, you can use the ratings to strike a balance between overall efficiency and upfront installation cost. Our team is here to help you with that decision. If you call our office to schedule an appointment for heater service in Plano, TX, we can help you select the furnace that will work best for your home and family. You can also keep reading to learn more about furnace efficiency ratings and what they mean.
What Is AFUE?
AFUE is an acronym for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. This is a rating that was standardized to help consumers make educated decisions when purchasing a residential furnace. We all know that manufacturers love to share the unique qualities of their products. But sometimes these things can be confusing. Investing in a furnace is a little different than shopping at your local grocery store for household products.
AFUE is designed to level the playing field for consumers to make an educated decision. The number in an AFUE rating represents a percentage. It’s the percentage of energy used that actually translates directly into heat for your home. Inevitably, furnaces will waste energy as part of the heating process. But ideally, a majority of the energy used translates directly into producing heat.
Why Does AFUE Matter?
Officials wanted homeowners to be able to make an educated decision without any guesswork about which heaters are more or less efficient. As a result, all furnaces get rigorously tested and assigned an AFUE rating. Of course, factors like individual use and outdoor temperatures can impact the efficiency of an individual furnace. However, the estimated average should be fairly accurate.
Potential Savings
A higher AFUE rating means that a furnace is more efficient. Efficient furnaces don’t have to use as much energy to produce heat for your home. The lowest acceptable rating for any heater in the United States is 80. The higher the rating, the more you stand to save on your monthly energy costs. You may not think a 10% difference is much, but saving 10% on your energy costs over the 15-year average life of a heater can add up very quickly. Saving just $10 per month adds up to $1,800.
Comfort Considerations
Aside from energy efficiency helping to lower energy costs, there are also added benefits to a highly efficient furnace. When your furnace doesn’t have to work as hard, it can heat your home more effectively. This means temperatures that remain consistent all day and night, even as the temperatures outside fluctuate dramatically.
Get it done right… Right now! The team at Hutchins Plumbing and Air Conditioning is ready to help you with all your home needs – including heater service.
