3 Ways To Find Out If You Have An Energy Efficient Furnace

Home heating costs can be high. If you’re not vigilant, your energy bill may be surprising.

Even if you manage your heat efficiently during the winter, it might not be enough to significantly reduce your energy costs. It may feel like you are burning money to stay warm if your furnace is not energy-efficient.

The less money it should cost to run your furnace, the more efficient it is. It’s not always simple to determine when your system is operating at its peak performance.

Here are three techniques to determine your heater’s efficiency if you are unsure.

1. Be Aware Of Your AFUE Rating

The best approach to evaluate the perfect efficiency of your furnace is to look at its annual fuel usage efficiency, or AFUE. How effectively your furnace can transform fuel into energy is shown by its AFUE rating, which is expressed as a percentage. The efficiency of the heater increases with AFUE.

For instance, an AFUE rating of 98 percent means that 98 percent of the fuel is actually being used to heat your home. Only 2% of the energy in that fuel is lost. Older furnaces, however, may only have an AFUE rating of 56 percent. 44 percent of the energy produced in those situations is squandered by being vented to the outside.

The AFUE rating of your furnace can be found on a label inside the furnace cabinet or in the heater’s user manual. If neither of these approaches yields the rating you seek, you can alternatively get in touch with the furnace’s maker or conduct an internet search using the heater’s make and model.

The AFUE rating of a furnace must be 90% or greater to qualify as a high-efficiency furnace. In temperate climes, a heater rated at 80% is usually adequate and relatively common. For new equipment, a minimum AFUE value of 78 percent is permitted.

2. Look At The Age Of Your Furnace

The AFUE rating of your furnace is a fantastic place to start when assessing your heating efficiency, but it doesn’t necessarily provide the full picture.

A furnace’s lifespan is typically between 15 and 20 years. Your furnace’s AFUE rating may initially be excellent, but if it isn’t properly maintained, it may drop by as much as 5% annually.

Despite the fact that you may have taken excellent care of your equipment over the years, certain parts will start to deteriorate with time and regular use. Furthermore, with all the advancements in HVAC technology, even a system that is ten years old could use an upgrade.

Do the arithmetic while keeping in mind the age of your furnace and its initial AFUE rating. You might decide to start planning for that purchase sooner rather than later if energy efficiency and lowering your utility costs are important to you.

3. Compare Energy Charges

Energy costs will inevitably change from time to time. Seasonal changes, housing conditions, or an increase in energy prices are frequently to blame.

But you can tell if your furnace is losing efficiency by comparing the amount of energy you use each month. Your furnace might not be operating as efficiently as it could be if your energy bill is much higher than it was at this time last year.

Keep an eye on your heating costs and make note of any outside factors that might be responsible for a larger bill, such as seasonal climatic changes, poor maintenance, or basic home improvements like insulation, windows, and weatherstripping. You can choose more carefully how to heat your house by keeping track of these shifts.

Maintaining The Efficiency Of Your Furnace

Taking good care of your furnace will assist to preserve its efficiency, whether you’re looking for a new furnace or want to get the most use out of your current one.

A thoughtful advisor will recommend the best equipment for your home based on your particular tastes and local climate if you’re in the market for a new system. Maintain a regular schedule of check-and-service appointments to keep your system functioning at its optimum and to keep your AFUE rating as accurate as possible.