In Ohio, we have rather cold winters. That means we need efficient heating equipment, both to save money on our utility bills and to make sure our homes are warm and comfortable. You may wonder how you can tell if your heating equipment is working efficiently. Fortunately, there are some signifiers that will indicate to you if you have an efficient heater. Let’s look at some of these.
- The age of the equipment. Your HVAC equipment is designed to last for a good long time — at least 10 years (likely longer). But don’t be surprised if when it reaches 10 years or so you need to have more-regular repairs. Sometimes, HVAC equipment can last as long as 20 years, but it may not be as efficient as it was when it was new. These days, newer equipment is designed to operate more efficiently than ever before, so if you’re holding on to an older heater or AC, you’re likely not getting the great efficiency you could get from the newer models.
- Energy Star rating. An Energy Star rating will tell you how efficient your heating and cooling equipment is. This government program was launched in the ’90s to tell consumers how well their equipment performs when compared to non-Energy Star-rated appliances. Energy Star ratings guarantee that you not only save money but that your carbon footprint is less than if you use non-Energy Star-rated equipment.
- Get a higher AFUE rating. An AFUE rating is an acronym for the annual fuel utilization efficiency rating, which tells you how efficient your furnace or other kind of heating equipment is. It tells you how efficiently your heater converts energy into heat. These days, most heating equipment will have very high AFUE ratings. For instance, it’s quite common for a modern furnace to have an AFUE of 98%, whereas an older furnace might have an AFUE of 56%. A 98% rating means only 2% of your energy is being lost while 98% is being used.
For more on heater efficiency, contact Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area