Heating your home can be expensive. If you are not careful, you could end up paying a shocking energy bill – and no one wants that, especially during the holiday season.
While properly controlling your heat throughout the winter by adjusting the temperature when you aren’t home or asleep can help you lower your energy bill, it may still not be enough. If your heater is not energy efficient, it can feel like you’re burning money. After all, one of the major energy-consuming appliances in your home is the furnace.
There is a simple way to find out just how energy efficient your home’s furnace is and that is by looking at its AFUE rating. This rating is usually found on the cabinet or in the user manual. AFUE, which stands for “Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency”, is a percentage that demonstrates how well your furnace works at converting its fuel source (propane, natural gas, electricity) into heating power for your home.
A higher AFUE rating means greater energy efficiency. The minimum standard for new furnaces is 78%. This means that a furnace will turn 78% of its fuel into heat, wasting about 22% either through air leaks, inefficient burners or a less-advanced design. For a furnace to earn the ENERGY STAR from the US Department of Energy, it must have an AFUE of at least 90%. Some high-efficiency furnaces on the market today can score even higher than this.
If you find that your furnace does not meet the ENERGY STAR requirement, you may want to consider replacing your unit.
But, it is important to understand that no matter how high the AFUE is, your heater’s efficiency rating will not mean much if the unit is malfunctioning, has a clogged air filter, dirty ductwork, or is not receiving regular professional maintenance. It has been shown that each year your furnace goes without maintenance, it will lose an average of 5% of its efficiency – which can increase your energy bills.
One of the best ways to ensure that your furnace stays as energy efficient as possible is to schedule regular maintenance by the professionals – like the ones at Advance Mechanical in Greenville, NC. By joining Advance Mechanical’s Comfort Club you will receive system cleanings and tune-ups twice a year, and other added benefits. Maintenance and energy efficiency are our specialties, so you can count on our team to help you save money while keeping your home cozy throughout winter. Advance Mechanical also services and installs commercial heating systems, so not only will your home be more energy efficient, but your business will as well. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment.