A furnace is a major purchase that will affect your life for years to come, which means you want to make sure you pick the right one. One of the most important aspects of a furnace is efficiency, which will determine how well it can produce heat, and how high your operating costs will be.
How to measure efficiency
All furnaces come with an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. The AFUE is a measure of what percentage of the potential energy from the fuel is converted into heat.
Some high efficiency furnaces have AFUE ratings of almost 100. Furnaces with the highest AFUE ratings use energy from the fuel and the combustion exhaust. Most standard furnaces have AFUE ratings of about 80 percent.
Efficiency and cost
The main factor behind what option is best for you is cost. It would be great if everyone could have a high efficiency furnace, but you pay more upfront for these furnaces.
The main factors you need to consider are as follows:
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Fuel consumption: If you expect to run your furnace often it will consume more fuel. The more fuel that it burns through the more you will benefit from switching to a higher efficiency system.
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Utility costs: Regardless of fuel type (gas or electric), the more expensive the fuel is, the more important that you make the most of it.
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Your home: The condition of your home should also factor in to the decision. If your home is well-insulated, you won’t lose as much heat and consequently won’t need to run your system as often.
Picking the best option is not easy to do by yourself. In most cases it is best to get an HVAC professional to estimate the lifetime cost of various models of furnaces in order to clearly see which is the best option.
Considering the climate of Los Angeles, you most likely don’t need to run your furnace very often. This means that standard efficiency furnaces are often going to be the best choice for your home. For professional help, contact Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace efficiency and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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