Choosing A Furnace? The More You Know About AFUE The Better

When choosing a furnace, selecting a model that keeps you comfortable throughout the long Lake Erie winters is a top priority. You also want an energy-efficient unit that will help lower your utility bills. The best method of ensuring that you pick an efficient furnace is to look at its AFUE rating. AFUE, an acronym for annual fuel utilization efficiency, rates furnaces based on the percentage of a unit’s total energy that ends up as heat output. For example, a model that turns 90 percent of the energy it consumes into heat for the home has an AFUE of 90 percent.

A furnace’s AFUE rating is found on its EnergyGuide label. The main categories of AFUE rankings are as follows:

• Below 78 percent: These are older model furnaces that might still be in use. They are significantly less efficient than modern units, which must have an AFUE of at least 78 percent.
• Mid-range: With AFUE ratings from around 78-80 to 90 percent,  these models have good, though not excellent, energy efficiency and make the most sense in areas without severe winters. The idea is that savings from high efficiency operation are the greatest in regions where the furnace gets a lot of use.
• High-efficiency: Units with an AFUE of 90 percent or more are the most efficient energy users and are recommended for homes that run the furnace a lot.

Purchasing a furnace with an AFUE of 90 percent or more is more expensive than buying a model with an AFUE in the 80s. However, if you live in a region with cold winter weather, the greater efficiency of the higher-rated unit will pay for itself over time in reduced energy costs. The U.S. Department of Energy features an online energy calculator that lets you estimate your annual energy cost savings when you upgrade to a furnace with a higher AFUE.

For more expert advice about choosing a furnace and other issues related to home comfort, please contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. In northeast Ohio, we provide superior HVAC services in Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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