With rising energy costs and inflation hitting budgets across the country, homeowners like you are looking for ways to decrease what you spend on everyday necessities like your utility bills. One big question many consumers have is whether an energy-efficient HVAC system will save them money in the long run. If you’ve been asking yourself the same question, then we wrote this blog post just for you.
Efficiency is calculated differently for furnaces and air conditioners. For both pieces of equipment, efficiency is measured by the equipment’s ability to heat or cool your home vs. how much energy is being exhausted as waste. For furnaces, efficiency is measured in AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) and uses percentages up to 100% to signify how much usable heat is produced by a furnace. For example, at 80% AFUE, a gas furnace puts out 80 BTUs (British Thermal Unit) of useful heat for your home for every 100 BTUs of natural gas it burns. While no furnace is rated at 100%, high-efficiency furnaces are typically rated at 90-97%.
Air conditioners, on the other hand, use a SEER rating which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. Most air conditioning units manufactured after 2005 comply with the federal minimum SEER rating of 13. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient your AC will be. Upgrading to a higher SEER-rated AC will save you significant money on your utility bills. For example, if your current AC has a SEER rating of 9 (manufactured before 2005), and you upgrade to a high-efficiency AC with a SEER rating of 15, you will use 40% less energy to get the same comfort.
Typically, you can find your efficiency rating on the sticker on your faceplate for both furnace and AC. If you can’t find it there, you can always look up your manufacturer and model online to get your efficiency rating.
Let’s face it. High-efficiency HVAC systems are an investment. Replacing your system with a high-efficiency furnace and air conditioner will have significant upfront costs. So, how does it save your budget?
Lower electric bills. Your HVAC system can account for 50% of your electricity bill. As your system ages, it becomes less efficient. If you’re ready to invest in a high-efficiency air conditioner, look for the Energy Star label and a SEER rating of 14 or higher. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient your system will be. A high-efficiency system can reduce your energy consumption by over 20% and help you save on your monthly utility bills.
Save on repairs. If your system is aging, and you’ve noticed the need to schedule more service calls – then it may be a sign that investing in an energy-efficient system can help you save on repairs. Investing in newer, and energy-efficient systems\ leads to lower repair bills giving you peace of mind no matter what season it is.
Energy-efficient HVAC systems will not only save you money over time, but you’ll also see savings the moment you open your utility bills. Your new energy-efficient system will use less energy to keep you and your family comfortable in the heat of summer and the chill of winter. While a new energy-efficient system is an investment, most homeowners report that it pays for itself within 3-5 years. If you’re ready to learn more about replacing your current equipment with a new high-efficiency HVAC system, our team is ready to help!
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