How to Tell if your Furnace is Energy Efficient
When the cold season hits, running your furnace full time boosts your monthly energy bill. A big contributor to that cost is how much energy your furnace uses. Wouldn't it be nice to know if your furnace is running at the most optimal energy setting possible? Here are a few ways to tell if you have an energy efficient furnace.
AFUE Rating
AFUE stands for annual fuel utilization efficiency - or how efficiently can your unit convert fuel into heat. Furnaces with a higher AFUE rating are generally more energy efficient. A furnace with a rating of 98 percent means that it only looses 2 percent of the energy - running at 98 percent efficiency. The lower the rating, the lower the efficiency and the more waste a homeowner is paying for.
Age
As a furnace ages, it begins to naturally loose its efficiency. The average lifespan of a furnace ranges from 15 - 20 years. On average, a furnace looses around 5 percent every year. If your furnace is older that 12 years old, the replacement cost could very well pay for itself in energy savings over the lifespan of the furnace.
Rising Energy Bills
Large, sudden increases in your monthly energy bills can usually reveal a problem with your furnace. Look to see month to month if a large fluctuation means a repair or replacement is in order. Poor airflow from blocked ducts or filters, short-cycling and part breakdowns are a typical way furnaces tend to consume more energy than needed.
Furnaces new and old need regular maintenance. The best thing you can do to protect your heating investment is to have a seasonal maintenance schedule. This helps detect small problems before they turn into large ones - leaving you stranded on a cold winter night.
At 4 Seasons Heating, Cooling & Electrical, we are experts at determining how efficiently your furnace is working. We offer free, in-home, no-obligation quotes and offer seasonal maintenance contracts. Contacting us may help you keep monthly energy costs down. Call us at (204) 953-5700 to learn more!
