Understanding the Efficiency Ratings of Boilers and Furnaces

The performance of your heating and cooling system is largely determined by your equipment’s operating efficiency. An energy efficient system consumes less energy, and this means lower utility bills and less impact on the environment. Over the past few years, utility companies have been seeking to install high-efficiency systems at homes. In turn, they pay hundreds of dollars in rebates to homes switching to more energy efficient systems.

What is the SEER Rating?

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is a metric used to indicate the energy efficiency of an air conditioner. The higher the SEER rating a device has, the more energy efficient it is. As of January 2006, it is a federal requirement that all air conditioners have a SEER rating of at least -13. However, you can buy equipment with higher SEER ratings of -18 and even -23. Installing high efficiency SEER rating air conditions will reduce your energy bills and emission of greenhouse gasses in the environment.

Industry professionals estimate that one in four furnaces in U.S. homes today is more than 20 years old and very energy inefficient. Old furnaces should be replaced with high-efficiency systems.

Understanding the AFUE Rating

The efficiency of a central boiler or furnace is measured by AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency). The AFUE is a measure of how energy efficient a boiler or furnace converting the energy in its fuel to heat over 12 months. Specifically, the measure is a ratio of annual heat output of a boiler or furnace to the total fuel it consumes. The FTC requires new boilers and furnaces to display their industry-standard efficiency ratings so consumers can compare them.

Standard furnaces might have a rating of 80% which that the furnace uses 80% of the fuel it burns to produce heat while the remaining 20% is lost in the chimney. You can identify and compare a furnace’s efficiency by its AFUE as well as equipment features.

Some of the features of old heating systems with low-efficiency include:

• AFUE rating of 56%-70%

• A heavy heat exchange

• Produce a continuous pilot light

• Have a natural draft that creates a flow of combustion gases

The Truth about Saving Energy at Home

Installing an ideal heating or cooling system can help you save 25% to 50% of your energy bills. Proper system installation is crucial to optimum reduction of energy bills. Oversights by contractors when installing the systems can leave homeowners shortchanged on energy savings. Using equipment of the right size and installing it correctly is primary to optimum energy saving.