Got a furnace? Winter is here, and it’s time to talk about efficiency. How important is your furnace’s efficiency, and what can you do to increase it? We’ve got the answers you need (and more!) below. Keep reading to learn about furnace efficiency ratings, why they’re essential, and how to improve furnace efficiency in your home or office.
How Do I Know How Efficient a Furnace Is?
Your furnace’s efficiency is a measurement of how well it converts fuel to heat energy. The more fuel it can turn into heat (and the less fuel that is wasted), the more efficient it is. This is called the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating and is a key factor to consider when purchasing a new furnace or determining how efficient your existing one is.
For example, an old furnace might only have an AFUE rating of 75%, meaning that a quarter of your fuel is lost to combustion and exhaust. A high-efficiency furnace, however, could have an AFUE rating of 95% or more, which indicates that almost all the fuel is used for heat and only 5% or less is wasted.
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Understanding Furnace AFUE Ratings
Why Is Efficiency Important?
The efficiency of your furnace isn’t just a highlight — it has real-world implications on the environment and your total energy bills.
An efficient furnace helps you:
- Reduce your carbon footprint
- Lower your winter energy bills
- Stay cozy on cold nights
- Avoid sudden heating repairs
Our Top Tips to Improve Furnace Efficiency
As you use your furnace season after season, it will naturally start to lose efficiency over time. However, there are several things that you can do, like:
Keeping Your Filters Clean
The filters on your furnace are one of its most important components. Without them, all the dust and debris in your space would just circulate around in your air. High-quality filters remove pet hair, dander, allergens, and even microscopic particles that are much too small to see, allowing you to breathe easier.
That said, your filters can only do so much before they get clogged and airflow becomes restricted. When air can’t pass through dirty filters, your furnace loses efficiency and has to work harder to maintain your preferred temperature. This also causes damage to your system and can cause you to need premature furnace repairs or replacement.
Investing in a Programmable Thermostat
When you want to improve the efficiency of your furnace, there is one tool that is easy and affordable to install — a programmable thermostat. This smart device lets you pre-set different temperatures for different times of the day to keep your space comfortable without using more energy than necessary.
Instead of having to constantly adjust your thermostat to try to lower your heating bills, a programmable thermostat does this for you. Some devices let you monitor fuel consumption, provide energy usage reports, or even memorize your heating temperature preferences over time. This allows the system to automatically adjust the heat based on your habits, without you having to decide when your space should be warmer or cooler.
Scheduling Your Annual Maintenance Appointments
If your furnace has worn or broken parts, dirty sensors, or corroded electrical connections, this can reduce its efficiency and put you at risk of heating or gas emergencies. Staying on top of your annual maintenance can help identify and mitigate problems early, before the last-minute winter rush when demand for service is high.
A professional furnace maintenance appointment typically includes:
- A visual inspection
- Filter cleaning or replacement
- Inspection and cleaning of the burner and flame sensor
- Testing of electrical connections and ignition
- Inspection of gas lines and CO detectors
- Calibration of the thermostat
How Cape Cod Heat Pumps Can Help
At Cape Cod Heat Pumps, we know that Massachusetts’ winters can get bitterly cold. Our comprehensive furnace installation, maintenance, and repair services are available to help keep you and your family warm, no matter what the weather throws our way.
Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of heating your space with a high-efficiency furnace, or to schedule a visit with one of our HVAC professionals for a quote. Call 508-833-4822 now to get started.