It's safe to say that even with the crazy weather recently, most of the country has at least dealt with a little bit of winter. As we keep trying to determine what's going to happen next with the weather, it's important to be sure that you've had furnace service scheduled when the weather finally turns to being cold constantly.
Part of owning and using a furnace involves a little bit of familiarization and understanding of the furnace itself. One of the most noteworthy tidbits to know is your furnace's AFUE (Annual Furnace Utilization Efficiency). AFUE is denoted as a percentage that lets you know about the type of efficiency you can expect out of your system. If you're uncertain about your current furnace's AFUE, make sure to ask during your next furnace service appointment and the technician can help you determine it's rating.
What Does AFUE Mean for You?
If you have an older furnace, your AFUE is likely quite a bit lower than the furnaces created today. What it means for you is that with every passing winter you're paying for fuel that ends up being wasted, not to heat your home. An easy way to think about it is by connecting your AFUE percentage to dollars. If your furnace has an AFUE of 75%, that means for every $100 that goes towards fuel, only $75 is being used to heat your home. Again, your furnace service technician can help you figure out the numbers specific to your furnace and your normal bill, but hopefully we've been able to paint a relatively clear picture for you.
Of course there is more that is involved in your decision in picking a new furnace or staying with an annual furnace service plan on your current system. Over time, efficiency levels can drastically affect the comfort and cost of heating your home, so we wanted to be sure you got a closer look at one of the more important considerations for furnaces. If you are curious about furnaces, furnace service or any number of other home comfort questions, give us a shout at 724-401-1843.