Home heating costs can be high, and your energy bill may be surprising if you're not vigilant. Even if you manage your heat efficiently during the winter, it might not be enough to reduce your energy costs significantly. It may feel like you are burning money to stay warm if your heater is not energy-efficient.
Less money should be spent on energy as your heater becomes more efficient. It's not always simple to determine when your system is operating at its peak performance.
Here are three techniques to determine the energy efficiency of a heater.
1. Be Aware Of Your Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) Rate
The best approach to evaluate the perfect efficiency of your heater is to look at its annual fuel usage efficiency, or AFUE. How effectively your heater can transform fuel into energy is shown by its AFUE rating, which is expressed as a percentage. The efficiency of the heater increases with AFUE.
For instance, a 98% AFUE rating means that 98% of the fuel is actually being used to heat your home. Only 2% of the energy in that fuel is lost. Older furnaces, however, may only have an AFUE value of 56%. In those situations, 44% of the energy produced is squandered by being vented to the outside.
The AFUE rating of your heater can be found on a label inside the furnace cabinet or in the heater's user manual. If neither of these approaches yields the rating you are looking for, you can get in touch with the heater's producer or conduct an internet search using the heater's make and model.
The AFUE rating must be 90% or higher for a furnace to be categorized as high-efficiency. In temperate climes, a heater with an efficiency rating of 80% is often adequate and extremely popular. For new equipment, a minimum AFUE level of 78% is permitted.
2. Check the Age of Your Heater
The AFUE rating of your heater is a fantastic place to start when assessing your heating efficiency, but it doesn't necessarily provide the full picture. A heater's lifespan is typically between 15 and 20 years. Even if your heater has a fantastic AFUE rating when it is first installed, it can lose roughly 5% of that rating for every year it is neglected.
Despite the fact that you may have taken excellent care of your equipment over the years, certain parts will start to deteriorate with time and regular use. Furthermore, with all the advancements in HVAC technology, even a system that is ten years old could use an upgrade.
3. Keep an Eye on Your Energy Bills & Compare Charges
Energy costs will inevitably change from time to time. Seasonal changes, housing conditions, or an increase in energy prices are frequently to blame.
However, you can tell if your heater is losing efficiency by comparing the amount of energy you use each month. Your heater might not be operating as efficiently as it could be if your energy bill is much higher than it was at this time last year.
Keep an eye on your heating costs and make note of any outside factors that might be responsible for a larger bill, such as seasonal climatic changes, poor maintenance, or basic home improvements like insulation, windows, and weather stripping.
Maintaining Heater Efficiency
Taking good care of your heater will assist to preserve its efficiency, whether you're looking for a new heater or want to get the most use out of your current one.
Your heating system may be properly maintained by the skilled service and maintenance technicians at BEAM HVAC so that it operates as effectively as possible.
Contact us today if you'd like to arrange a maintenance appointment. We'd be happy to assist you in getting the best heating option for your home that best suits your requirements.
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