When shopping for a new furnace, one of your chief concerns is efficiency. How much energy will the unit use in making your home comfortable? There are a number of factors that determine this, but the quickest way to find out is to look at the AFUE.
HVAC Heat Production
The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating is a measurement of how much heat your system produces for the amount of energy it consumes. To determine the rating, the manufacturers divide the total BTUs of heat the unit gives off in a year by the total BTUs of energy it expends in that time. Multiply that figure by 100, and you get a percentage. That's the AFUE.
For example, if a furnace has an AFUE rating of 85, that means 85% of the energy it uses is given off as heat and the other 15% is vented as exhaust. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. All gas furnaces sold in the United States must be rated at least 80%, while oil-fired boilers must be at least 84%.
Getting Optimum Efficiency
The most efficient furnaces on the market are rated 98.5%. However, these models tend be prohibitively expensive. On a practical level, anything above 85% is great, particularly if you're upgrading from a less-efficient model.
It also helps to look for features that improve energy efficiency. For instance, modulating furnaces adjust the amount of gas burned as needed based on how cold the house actually is in order to minimize waste. A variable-speed air handler does the same with airflow, regulating the amount of air that circulates as needed, so the system doesn't just run full blast all the time.
Finally, look for the blue Energy Star logo on any furnace model you're considering. This means it's been proven to save money and energy over similar models while still providing the same level of comfort and basic features.
To ensure your HVAC system runs at peak efficiency all year long, contact us at Air Assurance. We provide quality home-comfort solutions to Broken Arrow.