It's safe to say that even with the random weather recently, a lot of the country has at least dealt with a little bit of winter. As we keep trying to guess what's going to occur next with the weather, it's important to make sure that you've had furnace service scheduled when the weather finally flips the switch to being cold all the time.
Part of owning and using a furnace involves a little bit of familiarization and understanding of the system itself. One of the most critical tidbits to know is your furnace's AFUE (Annual Furnace Utilization Efficiency). AFUE is noted by a percentage that informs you of the type of efficiency expected from your system. If you're uncertain about your current furnace's AFUE, be sure to ask during your next furnace service appointment and the team member can help you figure out 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 out there now. What it means for you is that with every passing winter you're paying for fuel which then is being wasted, not to heat your home. An easy way to think about it is by relating your AFUE percentage to dollars. If your furnace has an AFUE of 75%, that means for every $100 spent on fuel, only $75 is being used to heat your home. Again, your furnace service team member can help you figure out the numbers specific to your furnace and your regular bill, but hopefully we've been able to provide a somewhat clear picture for you.
Of course there is more that factors in to your decision in choosing a new furnace or staying with an annual furnace service plan on your current system. Over time, efficiency levels can severely inhibit the comfort and cost of heating your home, so we wanted to make sure you got a closer look at one of the more important considerations for furnaces. If you have any questions about furnaces, furnace service or any number of other home comfort questions, give us a shout at 614-451-0846.