If you’re in the market for a new HVAC system or you want to learn more about your existing system, look to HVAC ratings for important information. The ratings, required to be on all HVAC equipment by the U.S. Department of Energy, indicate the energy efficiency of most heating and cooling systems.
Knowing how efficient these systems are can be a critical factor in the replacement process or in gaining insight into your cooling and heating costs. The key HVAC ratings are:
AFUE
Standing for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, this rating tells you how efficiently heating equipment uses combustible fuels. The minimum standard for most types stands at 80, which means that 80% of the fuel the system uses creates heat, while 20% of the heat the fuel creates goes up the chimney as combustion gases.
Systems with higher AFUE ratings waste less fuel. Today’s most efficient heating systems reach AFUE ratings in the high 90s. In our climate, it’s worth considering a high-AFUE system to save fuel and increase comfort.
HSPF
The Heating System Performance Factor describes the HVAC ratings for the heating cycle of heat pumps. The current minimum stands at 8.2. It tells you how much heat is created for each watt of electricity the heat pump uses. Higher HSPF ratings are better.
SEER
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio applies to heat pumps and air conditioners. It tells you how much electricity the cooling system uses to remove heat over an extended period. Engineers test each model over the course of a few months. They maintain the outside temperature at 82 degrees F and track power consumption to cool an interior environment to 80 degrees. As with all HVAC ratings, higher is better.
The minimum SEER currently stands at 13 and reach HVAC ratings into the mid-20s. Each single increase in the SEER indicates that the system uses 10% less electricity. The SEER and HSPF are closely related on heat pumps. A higher-efficiency unit will have both higher SEER and HSPF ratings, important for both summer and winter comfort.
If you’d like more information about HVAC ratings and their implications, contact the pros at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning, serving homeowners in the Lorain area.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area