Energy efficiency is on everyone’s minds these days, especially when heating and cooling our homes. So, is your heater energy efficient? Here are three ways that you can tell.
#1: Check the Efficiency Rating
The AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating, is a way to tell how efficient your heater is. The rating measures a percentage of how efficiently it uses fuel to create the heat that keeps your home warm. The higher the rating, the more efficient. 80% is the minimum for efficiency, but closer to 95% is ideal.
#2: The Age of the Equipment
The older your heater, the less efficient it is. Pay attention to the age of the equipment to help you determine if it’s using a lot more energy than you’d like and costing you a lot more on your utility bills as well. Heaters and furnaces have an average life expectancy of 15-20 years, but their efficiency starts to drop sooner than that. If your heater is more than 10-years-old, it probably is not very efficient.
#3: Your Energy Bills are Increasing
Have your energy bills increased over the last year or so? If you notice a gradual upswing in the cost to heat your home, it’s a pretty good indicator that your heater is using more fuel than it should. As HVAC units age, they must work harder to maintain the temperature in your house, and as a result, they require more energy to run. That excess energy use shows up on your monthly bills.
If you’re concerned about the energy efficiency of your heater, it could be time to talk to your local HVAC professional. Contact H.H. Hovey Heating and Cooling for help determining if your system needs repair or replacement.
