As the temperatures begin to drop in Springfield, Virginia, we turn our furnace on to stay warm. However, if you notice that your heating bills are rising or that your home isn’t getting warm enough, you may have a furnace that’s not efficiently converting fuel into heating power. Let’s talk about how the HVAC industry uses the AFUE rating system on furnaces and why it’s important.
What Does AFUE Stand For?
The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating is the system used to determine how efficiently your furnace burns fuel to heat your home. The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient your furnace is at converting the fuel to heat. As a result, you save energy and money.
What’s a Good Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency Rating?
The higher the number, the more efficient the furnace is at converting its energy source to British Thermal Units (BTUs) — or heat. If your furnace has a rating of 85 percent, it turns 100 units of natural gas into 85 BTUs. Energy Star furnaces must have an AFUE rating of at least 90 percent. You want to have a rating that’s at least that number, if not higher. You can find the AFUE rating on a sticker inside the furnace cabinet.
How Will a High AFUE Rating Benefit Me?
Invest in a furnace with a high AFUE rating to:
- Save money: Your heating bills are lower with a furnace that has a high AFUE rating.
- Save energy: You won’t be using as much fossil fuel with a higher rating. As a result, you’ll help to save the Earth’s resources.
- Improve performance: A new furnace that’s maintained regularly will perform better and deliver warm air more efficiently. Because the furnace is converting more fuel into heat, you’ll notice your home gets warmed quickly and stays warmer longer.
Give our professional team at Brennan’s Heating & Air Conditioning a call today to schedule an appointment to upgrade your furnace. We’re happy to speak with you at 703-783-0145.
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