How Can I Tell How Efficient My Furnace Is?
Homeowners are more interested in energy efficiency today than ever before. Energy audits and blower door testing are now regular procedures to help homeowners find out where they can save money through improvements for a more energy-efficient home.
One of the major energy-consuming appliances in a house is its furnace. If you’re concerned about saving money and lowering your energy use, it’s important to know you have a furnace that efficiently converts its fuel source into heating power with minimal waste.
One of the best ways to ensure that your furnace in Raleigh, NC, stays as energy-efficient as possible is to schedule routine maintenance from professionals like those at Raleigh Heating & Air. Maintenance and energy efficiency are our specialties, so count on us to help you save money while keeping your home cozy all winter.
The AFUE Rating on Your Furnace
There’s a simple way to find out the energy efficiency of your home’s furnace: Look at its AFUE rating. This number, found on the cabinet or in the user manual, is the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency measurement. It tells you how well the furnace converts its fuel source (natural gas, electricity, propane) into heating power.
AFUE is a percentage that represents how much of the furnace’s energy source it converts into BTUs of heat. If a gas furnace, on average, turns 100 units of natural gas into 85 BTUs (as measured over a full year), then its AFUE rating is 85%.
Currently, all furnaces produced in the U.S. must have an AFUE of 81% or greater. For a furnace to earn the ENERGY STAR® label from the U.S. Department of Energy, it must have an AFUE of at least 90%. Some high-efficient furnaces can score even higher.
A furnace’s efficiency rating won’t mean much if the unit is malfunctioning, has a clogged air filter or dirty ductwork, or isn’t receiving professional furnace maintenance every year. Each year that a furnace misses its maintenance appointment, it loses, on average, 5% of its efficiency, and that can mean steep increases in heating costs.
To make sure your home’s furnace lives up to its AFUE rating, call the heating and energy efficiency specialists at Raleigh Heating & Air. We offer maintenance and duct cleaning to help keep your furnace in Raleigh, NC, in top shape and save you money every year.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment.