If someone were to ask you at the water cooler what the AFUE was on your furnace, what would your answer be? I think it is fair to say that ‘some’ ( and I stress ‘some’, simply because consumers are becoming better at educating themselves) , would probably not know. AFUE is an acronym for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Simply put, if your AFUE is 95%, then for every $100 you are spending, $95 of that is actually being used to heat your home. A furnace of say 80% AFUE, would mean that for every $100 spent, $80 of that is being used to heat your home. The higher the AFUE #, the more efficient your appliance will be.
Let’s use light bulbs as an apple to oranges comparison. We all know there are more efficient light bulbs on the market compared to the ones our Grandparents’ or Parents’ had available to them. We have the option of using the old ‘standard’ bulbs or the green, eco-friendly bulbs. We basically get the same amount of light from both, but one is more efficient than the other in operating costs.
The same applies to your furnace. You have to spend the same $100, so why not have more of that go towards actually heating your home instead of up the chimney. Of course there are many factors to take into consideration when it comes time to have a new appliance installed. Many sources are available for information that will guide you in your decision. As always, credible information comes from credible sources. Here are just a few to get you started.
www.consumersearch.com
www.energystar.com
www.energuide.com