Last week we talked about HSPF2 ratings for heat pumps. But what about the energy efficiency rating for heaters? These efficiency ratings work a little differently, and it’s important to know about AFUE ratings as well. If you need heater service for your residential system this winter season, give our team a call for heating service in Phoenix.
You can also keep reading to learn everything you need to know about AFUE ratings so you understand how efficient your existing heater is. This also helps to inform your decision when it’s time to make an upgrade so that you can select a heater with a strong energy efficiency rating.
AFUE Overview
AFUE is an acronym that is short for annual fuel utilization efficiency. Heaters are assigned a rating on a scale up to 100%, with 100% being completely and totally energy efficient. If a heater were to have a score of 100%, that would mean all of the energy being consumed by the system transferred directly into becoming heat for your home.
80% efficiency is the standard when it comes to installing a gas furnace or boiler. Anything lower than 80% efficiency is unacceptable and those systems are not legally allowed to be installed. This ensures that you have a heater in place that turns at least 80% of the energy consumed by the unit directly into heat. This leaves another 20% of the energy potentially being lost during the heating process.
High Efficiency Heaters
The more energy efficient a heater is, the less it costs to operate on a monthly basis. Furnaces and boilers are considered high-efficiency models if they have an AFUE rating of 90% or higher. It is not realistic to think that a heater could be totally and completely energy efficient, but there are some heaters that operate at around 98.5% efficiency.
The higher the efficiency rating, the more expensive that a heater will cost upfront for installation. However, the higher the efficiency rating, the more that you will save on your monthly energy costs over the entire lifespan of the heater.
Costs vs. Savings
Spending more upfront on a high efficiency heater can easily pay off over the unit’s lifespan. For example, let’s say you spend $1,000 more to get a heater with a stronger efficiency rating than the base model. As a result, you save 10% on your monthly energy costs for heating.
Saving just $15 a month adds up to $150 per year, or $2,250 over a 15-year period. Your potential savings are more than twice that of the extra investment you made upfront. Keep in mind that both homeowner and professional maintenance play a role in heater efficiency. When you keep up with regular maintenance, your heater has a better chance at maintaining its strong efficiency standards across its entire lifespan.
Don’t waste your time with the run-around. Give the AZ Perfect Comfort team a call to schedule your appointment for heating service and let us do it right the first time!