In a perfect world, you would have an unlimited budget and wouldn’t need to worry about weighing efficiency ratings when you shop for a new furnace. Unfortunately, things don’t usually work out like that, so you need to know how to compare products so you can find the right model for your needs.
Weighing efficiency ratings is easy once you know how to use the information:
- AFUE ratings. Each furnace is rated according to the amount of heat it can generate for every unit of fuel it consumes. This is known the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. The number is given as a percentage so it’s easy to understand. For example, an AFUE rating of 90 percent means that 90 percent of the fuel that’s consumed becomes heat.
- Understand your needs. If you’re deciding between repairing and upgrading, you need to know the age and condition of your current model. If it’s older than 15 years, it probably has an AFUE rating well under 70 percent and may not be worth repairing. It’s also a good idea to have an HVAC professional calculate your home’s heating load.
- Put it in perspective. By law, the lowest AFUE allowed for new furnaces is 78 percent but highly efficient models can go as high as 97 percent. Once a certified technician knows your heating load, he can estimate the annual operating costs for furnaces of different AFUE ratings so you can make an informed decision.
- Budget wisely. Minnesota’s cold weather means higher AFUE models are often worth the investment. If you can stretch your budget a little in order for 10-15 years of savings, then it’s likely a good idea. If you’re planning on moving soon, it may not be such a great idea.
If you’d like professional assistance weighing efficiency ratings for your new furnace, please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving the Twin Cities metro area for nearly four decades.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about efficiency ratings and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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