Furnace Efficiency Ratings and What They Mean

January 21, 2017

There are a lot of things to contemplate when you buy a new replacement furnace:

  • What type of budget do you have for a new furnace?
  • How much can you afford each month in heating bills?
  • Does anyone living in the home have respiratory ailments?
  • How big does the system need to be to heat your size of home?

But have you ever considered your furnace efficiency rating? Do you know what it means?

Knochelmann Service Experts is here to help clear up any confusion with what the furnace efficiency rating is and the effects is can have on your home and your budget.

The furnace efficiency rating helps determine how much energy is required to heat your home and, ultimately, how much it will cost you. Essentially, the higher your furnace efficiency rating the less energy your furnace requires to heat your home.

The AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating is the figure that reflects how much heat the furnace will produce compared to the amount of energy required to produce the heat. For example, if your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80%, this means 20% of energy used is lost and 80% actually becomes heat for your home.

 
Annual fuel utilization efficiency rating 
 
Remember that this rating does not consider the potential heat lost through leaking or poorly installed duct work or attic insulation. The duct work in every home is different – some high quality, some substandard, so the AFUE rating does not include this in their rating. If you are concerned that your furnace or duct system is not energy efficient, give your Sharonville installation experts a call today and we will provide you with a free in-home analysis and help you determine how much more energy and money you could potentially save each month.

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