How is Furnace Efficiency Determined in Largo, FL?

January 20, 2023

Almost everyone has a vague idea of how important furnace efficiency is for managing heating costs. However, few people understand what’s involved in determining furnace efficiency. Discover the particulars of furnace efficiency in Largo, FL, so that you can save more energy and money when heating your house.

What’s AFUE, Why Is It Important?

AFUE, or Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency, is how manufacturers measure the efficiency of their units. Technically, AFUE is the ratio of the annualized amount of heat output compared to the fuel energy it consumes.

More simply put, it compares how much heat gets pumped into your home versus how much heat it produces. Every fuel-burning furnace produces toxic gas that vents through the roof, taking some heat with it. The higher the AFUE rating, the less heat the unit loses in exhaust.

This is important for two reasons. First, more efficient furnaces consume less fuel while running. Second, it’s one factor in determining what size unit you need.

For instance, if you have a 15,000 BTU furnace with 90% AFUE, you’re only getting 13,500 BTU of usable heat. If you need 15,000 BTU to properly heat your home, you’ll need a larger unit to account for the heat loss. Having the right size unit for your home helps reduce premature furnace repairs and extend your system’s life.

What’s the Functional Difference Between Standard and High-Efficiency?

Standard furnaces have a minimum AFUE of 80% for units manufactured after November 19, 2015. High-efficiency units are anything with an AFUE of 90% or greater. High-efficiency gas furnaces have slightly different parts to improve their heat utilization, including:

Two heat exchangers.
A variable speed blower.
A two-stage burner.

What’s the Cost Difference?

High-efficiency furnaces tend to run between 25% to 40% more than standard models. The amount it affects your actual heating bill depends on several factors, including:

Efficiency difference from current to new furnace.
Your home’s insulation.
How you use your furnace<./li>
Cost of fuel.

Make sure you’re getting the best advice for your next furnace. Call to schedule your new furnace installation consultation appointment with the NATE-certified service technicians at Arctic Air Systems today.

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