Furnace Efficiency
Replacing your furnace to a newer model can help you save money on your energy bills. Aside from the price factors, newer furnaces cause less pollution and boost comfort by producing heat more steadily.
Over the years, energy efficiency has risen is gas furnaces. How efficiently a furnace converts gas into heating energy is shown in its annual fuel-utilization-efficiency AFUE rating. The higher the percentage, the more heat the furnace wrings from each therm of gas. Efficient furnaces generate less emissions, which is more environmentally friendly.
In the last 40 years furnace efficiency has increased by over 30%. In the 1970’s efficiency was rated at 65%. Now we have a minimum requirement of 78% but newer models reach 97%!
The size of the furnace matters, and should fit your needs. If you have a furnace that is too small, you may not be able to heat your house comfortably warm on really cold days. Furnaces that are too large will cycle on and off more often which results in more wear on its parts as well as waste energy.
You can make your home more energy efficient by implementing these strategies;
- Turn down your thermostat in the winter by just 2 degrees. This can reduce your emissions by 6% & you will save money on your energy bill!
- Close your curtains at night to block more cold from coming in the windows.
- Open the curtains on sunny days in the winter to benefit from solar heating.
- Reduce heat loss by sealing leaks and ducts as well as insulating.
By having one of today’s more efficient gas furnaces you will be happy to know you save up to 40$ for every 100$ you spent on fuel compared to older models. Newer models are also less likely to need repairs, so you save money in the long term!
