AFUE: How Your Furnace’s Efficiency Is Measured

ac designs team

Furnaces come in all shapes and sizes, which means there are many different options to choose from. There needs to be a base line to measure your furnace’s efficiency: to tell you that one model functions more effectively than another (and thus may be worth a more expensive sticker price). That baseline is called the AFUE, which stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating, and it’s how your furnace’s efficiency is measured.

The formula for deriving the AFUS rating is fairly simple. You divide the amount of energy the furnace uses by the amount of energy of useful heating it creates. The result is a number, measured as a percentage, that shows you how much of the furnace’s energy is actually being used to heat your home.

So obviously, the higher the AFUE rating, the better your furnace will perform and the more it will save you money on monthly costs. You’ll need to weigh these savings against the initial cost of the unit itself, which is bound to be higher for more efficient furnaces. With good advice from a trained, you can likely find a unit that hits the right combination of efficiency and affordability to match your circumstances.

If efficiency is all you’re after, there’s a handy cheat sheet you can use. The EnergyStar sticker denotes furnaces that have an AFUE rating of 90% or higher, giving you a quick answer to how your furnace’s efficiency is measured. As for the good advice, in Daytona Beach, furnace questions of all kinds can be answered by the professionals at AC Designs Inc. We know you want the most efficient furnace you can get and we’ll work with you to find the proper size and model to suit your unique circumstances. We’re dedication to your complete satisfaction during every step of the process, so don’t hesitate to give us a call today.