When the winter season rolls back around, you’re likely dreading the thought of paying heating bills. It may seem like you’re at the mercy of the weather outside. Fortunately, you have control over your heating system’s efficiency rating, which directly affects the overall cost of your heating bills throughout the winter months.
What Is AFUE?
All furnaces and boilers will be given an AFUE rating that indicates overall operating efficiency. AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency Rating. This efficiency rating is determined by dividing the total amount of fuel the system uses by the total amount of heat it produces in BTUs. The higher the system’s AFUE rating, the more efficient its operation is.
For example, a furnace with an 80% AFUE rating converts 80% of the fuel it burns into usable energy. Essentially, 20% of the energy put into the stove gets lost in the heat generation process. When you understand what an AFUE rating is, it’s very easy to know how it translates to changes in your utility bills for the winter months.
Factors That Affect Your Furnace’s AFUE Ratings
While all furnaces are given a standard AFUE rating by the Department of Energy (DOE), their efficiency will vary depending on your specific household conditions. Various factors can influence your furnace’s AFUE rating. One of the most sizable is the combustion efficiency of the furnace itself.
If you burn a cleaner fuel like natural gas, it will have a higher rating than other fuels like heating oil. Another factor that affects your furnace’s AFUE rating is the amount of heat loss that occurs through your ventilation and flue system. You can help minimize heat loss by insulating this part of your heating system.
Typical Furnace AFUE Ratings
All furnaces have a standard AFUE rating between 80 and 100%. In general, the higher a unit’s AFUE rating, the more expensive it will be to purchase. Furnaces have efficiency levels that fall into three main categories: standard efficiency, mid-range, and high efficiency. Furnaces with an AFUE rating of between 80 and 90% are considered to be standard efficiency models.
Furnaces with an AFUE rating between 90 and 95% fall into the mid-range category. Installing a furnace with these ratings will provide a good combination of affordability and efficiency for the average homeowner. Furnaces with an operating efficiency between 96 and 100% are put in the high-efficiency category.
It’s important to note that furnaces that burn fuel like natural gas, propane, and heating oil will never reach 100% efficiency. The combustion process is different than the resistance process that provides heat in an electric system. Only electric furnaces can operate at 100% efficiency.
You Must Take Fuel Into Consideration
While it’s true that a furnace with a very high AFUE rating will operate the most efficiently, that doesn’t always directly transfer to heating costs. For example, an electric furnace operates at 100% efficiency, making it the most efficient furnace model out there. However, if you compare the cost of powering an electric furnace to that of a natural gas furnace, there is a very stark difference in input price.
It’s vital that you consider input cost when selecting the right furnace for your home. Getting the ideal furnace means choosing a great combination of input cost and overall operating efficiency. Natural gas is generally going to be the cheapest fuel to purchase, followed by propane and heating oil. Electricity is the most expensive input fuel for a heating system.
Additional Benefits of Investing in High AFUE Systems
While saving on your heating bills is a significant advantage of investing in a heating system with a high AFUE rating, that’s not the only benefit it can provide. You can have peace of mind that your extremely efficient heating system is reducing your family’s carbon footprint. Furthermore, many high-efficiency heating systems come with a federal tax credit and even local rebates to help offset the cost of investing in a high-efficiency model.
Other Factors That Affect Heating Bills
One of the biggest factors that affects the operating efficiency of your heating system is its air filter. If your air filter is dirty, your system will work overtime to try to force air through it. To ensure that your system operates efficiently, it’s necessary to check and replace your air filter as necessary.
Most homeowners discover that they need to replace their air filters every two to three months. Additionally, investing in furnace maintenance service from one of our professionals will help ensure that your system is working at its peak efficiency level, which will do wonders for keeping your heating bills in check.
One major factor that will influence the overall cost of your heating bills is the amount of insulation in your home. A well-insulated home can retain its heat longer and run its heating system less often than a home that lacks adequate insulation. Furthermore, the overall state of your air ducts can impact how much of your hot air makes it to the rooms in your home.
If your ducting has multiple gaps and leaks, it will allow some of your hot air to escape into the wall and floor cavities instead of making its way to your rooms. This will drive up your heating bills, as your heating system will have to compensate by producing more heat to get your home up to your temperature demands.
Great Tips to Reduce Your Heating Bills
As a homeowner, there are many things that you can do to help reduce your heating bills throughout the cold winter months. One of the easiest and most effective methods is to use natural sunlight to your advantage. Just having direct sunlight through your windows can heat the temperature in your home by 10 degrees or more.
That’s a lot of energy you can save your heating system from using. Be sure to open up those blinds and curtains throughout the daytime to optimize direct sunlight intake.
Investing in a smart thermostat is another excellent tip for lowering your heating bills. These thermostats allow you to program multiple temperature settings depending on the day and time. For example, you can set the thermostat to be at a lower temperature when you’re at work so that your heating system doesn’t have to waste energy heating your home for no one.
With the correct settings, you can ensure that your heating system kicks back on before you arrive home so you’re walking into a comfortable environment. Smart thermostats can even allow you to monitor your system’s usage and suggest how to optimize it better to reduce your energy bills.
Expert Heating Maintenance Service
Southport Home Services offers the Madison, WI area expert heating maintenance as well as other heating and furnace services. We’re happy to assist with all your heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and commercial needs. Call us today to book your next service consultation with one of our helpful HVAC professionals.
