If you’re in the market for a new furnace, there are several factors, AFUE ratings foremost among them, that you’ll want to keep in mind. First of all, AFUE, or “annual fuel utilization efficiency,” measures how well a furnace converts energy into actual heat. The higher the AFUE rating, the more energy is being successfully converted. So a furnace with 90 percent AFUE only loses a 10th of its energy up the chimney or flue.
For obvious reasons, AFUE ratings can have a huge impact on your household’s finances. First and foremost, since you pay for all of the energy that your appliances put to waste, a higher-efficiency furnace is automatically going to save you some money on utility bills, both in the short- and long-term future. In addition to those guaranteed savings, though, furnaces with higher AFUE ratings also tend to run more smoothly, partially due to their “sealed combustion” method of heating. This means they’re more reliable, and at significantly lower risk for breakdowns and other major technical problems. Anyone who’s ever had an HVAC appliance break down can tell you those repairs don’t come cheap.
On top of AFUE, however, you should also consider how furnaces have evolved and changed over time. Older furnaces used a pilot light and natural draft to control heating, and never achieved AFUE ratings higher than 65 or 70 percent. Slightly newer models are generally rated around 75 to 83 percent, utilizing exhaust fans for their heating. Since the newest furnaces are rated closer to the 85 to 95 percent range, there’s likely major potential for an efficiency upgrade if you’re still using one of the older types. Granted, upgrading is expensive, but if you view it as an investment, you’ll be happy with the long-term savings.
So, keep these factors in mind, and for HVAC issues in the greater Hartford area and Connecticut in general, contact Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about AFUE ratings and other HVAC topics, visit our website.
Glasco Heating & Air Conditioning services South Windsor, Connecticut and the surrounding areas.