As the cold weather approaches, you want to make sure your heating and cooling system is up and running as efficiently as possible. Considering that, you need to know the signs of an inefficient furnace. A furnace generally lasts between 15 and 18 years, but it’s important to be aware of any issues with your system, no matter how old it is. If your furnace is running inefficiently, you are throwing money away by forcing your heating and cooling system to work as hard as it can, without getting the proper results. Luckily, a good furnace repair service can address any heating and cooling issues, but you need to know what to look for. Here are a few ways you can tell if your furnace is inefficient.
A furnace or boiler’s efficiency is measured by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). Luckily, the Federal Trade Commission requires new furnaces to display their AFUE, which allows consumers to compare heating efficiencies. A furnace’s AFUE is the ratio of annual heat output of the furnace compared to the total fossil fuel energy used by a furnace annually. To better help you understand the differences between heating systems, below are the AFUE and equipment standards for heating systems:
Low efficiency heating systems:
Mid-efficiency heating systems:
High-efficiency heating systems:
Now that you know a little bit more about what makes a heating and cooling system most efficient, you should be able to easily detect the warning signs of an inefficient furnace. If your furnace is showing any signs of inefficiency, it’s important to contact your local HVAC technician right away.