It's safe to say that even with the random weather recently, the majority of the country has at least had a little bit of winter. As we keep trying to guess what's going to take place next with the weather, it's important to make certain that you've had furnace service completed when the weather finally flips the switch to being cold constantly.
Part of owning and using a furnace involves some 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 recognized as a percentage that lets you know about the type of efficiency you'll get from your system. If you're not sure about your current furnace's AFUE, be 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 probably quite a bit lower than the furnaces available today. What that means is that with every passing year you're paying for fuel that's 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 you spend 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 semi clear picture for you.
Of course there is more that goes in to your decision in buying a new furnace or continuing with an annual furnace service plan on your current system. Over time, efficiency levels can severely affect the comfort and cost of heating your home, so we wanted to be sure you got a better 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 call at 636-206-4250.