Seen that "energy efficient" prefix with so many HVAC appliances and, in this case, Furnaces? What does that mean? And how do energy efficient Furnaces help save? Also, how a common homeowner can find out if his system is energy efficient? This blog will help find the answers to these questions.

The term energy efficiency refers to the system's ability to make the most use of energy. A high energy efficient Furnace utilizes almost all the energy provided while a less energy efficiency unit wastes a significant amount of energy provided. Evidently, energy efficient Furnaces help save on energy bills. While they are costlier than the conventional less efficient units, the longterm saving is promised along with better and swift comfort.
If you want to find out whether or not your current system is an energy efficient system, keep reading.

Check AFUE rating 

Every unit has an AFUE rating. AFUE mean, annual fuel utilization efficiency. The better the system is at utilizing the fuel, the less it will waste it and the higher will be the AFUE. So in the case of 98% AFUE, the system wastes only %2 energy which is almost negligible. Such units are very highly efficient units. The AFUE rating varies according to brands and then models within brands. Lower AFUE units which may be as low as 50% are lower in prices as well but then the utility bills go higher and higher.
Here another point needs to be kept in consideration and that is; a system's claimed AFUE doesn't mean the system will always run with the same efficiency. AFUE and SEER (in case of air conditioners) give the estimated highest possible efficiency. This efficiency drops partly due to age and partly due to lack of regular maintenance. So the first point to assess your Furnace's efficiency is to check its AFUE. The rest of the points are coming below.

Calculate age 

Done with checking the AFUE? Great with that. Now check how old your Furnace is. Did you know that unmaintained unit drops 5% in efficiency every year? If you have not been doing maintenance, you can calculate on your own how much the efficiency must have dropped. In the case otherwise, even if you have been performing maintenance but the unit is very old, it has still dropped efficiency and raised energy bills and this goes without saying. If you don't know what is an average lifespan of a Furnace, it's 15-20 years for Gas Furnaces and 25-30 years for electric Furnaces.

Analyse energy bills 

Thoroughly analyse energy bills of the ongoing year and the past year. Do they show a significant difference even when your usage has been the same throughout? Then this is an indicator of efficiency drop. The efficiency has dropped and the system is wasting more energy resulting in higher energy bills.

These 3 factors considered together can tell you a whole lot about your Furnace system's efficiency. And also about whether or not it's the time to go for an upgrade.

Did you find this blog helpful? How old is your Furnace? And what is its AFUE?