The cost to heat and cool your home makes up more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s crucial to look for a system that offers superior comfort in your Ballwin and St. Charles home while still being energy efficient. Higher energy efficiency means your system is operating well while using less energy. Whether you are thinking about a replacement air conditioner or furnace or thinking to upgrade your existing equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to be aware of that will help you during the procedure. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings indicate?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating reflects the efficiency of your unit at different temperatures, in other words, seasonally in Ballwin and St. Charles. A higher SEER rating denotes a higher energy efficiency, which will translate into less expensive utility bills. The Department of Energy requires a minimum 13 SEER-rating for cooler states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for warmer, southern states. If your home has an older unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see radical energy savings after an improvement.
AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric)
AFUE stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio and it keeps track of the percentage of heat created for every dollar of fuel used. You can look at it as the MPG on your car. The larger the AFUE-rating, the smaller your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that signifies that 80% of the heat generated is consumed to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is misplaced through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and operates to measure the heating effectiveness of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the colder months as it only determines your unit’s heating effectiveness. Like the others, the larger the number, the more energy efficient the heat pump.
Air Alliance Team in Ballwin and St. Charles offers equipment with the highest energy efficiency ratings. If you are uncertain what the energy ratings are of the system in your home we would be happy to help you better understand to keep your home comfortable, while saving money. Give us a call at 636-206-4250 to set up an appointment with us.