The cost to heat and cool your home makes up more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s imperative to look for a system that offers excellent comfort in your Logan home while still being energy efficient. Higher energy efficiency means your system is working well while using less energy. Whether you are looking into a replacement air conditioner or furnace or thinking to upgrade your present equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to be aware of that will help you during the process. 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 considers the competence of your unit at different temperatures, meaning, seasonally in Logan. A greater SEER rating denotes a higher energy efficiency, which will translate into smaller utility bills. The Department of Energy expects a minimum 13 SEER-rating for colder states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for hotter, southern states. If your home has an aged unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see drastic energy savings after an upgrade.
AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric)
AFUE stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio and it finds the percentage of heat created for every dollar of fuel consumed. You can consider it as the MPG on your car. The higher the AFUE-rating, the less your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that denotes that 80% of the heat created is used to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is misplaced through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and is used to measure the heating productivity of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the winter season as it only determines your unit’s heating productivity. Like the others, the greater the number, the extra energy efficient the heat pump.
Western Mechanical, Inc. in Logan offers equipment with the highest energy efficiency ratings. If you are unsure what the energy ratings are of the heating and cooling in your home we would be glad to help you better understand to keep your home comfortable, while saving money. Give us a call at 435-753-5515 to arrange for an appointment with us.