How to Tell If Your Furnace Is Inefficient

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.

1. Longer Heating Times. A sure sign that your furnace isn’t working properly is that it takes too long to warm your home. If you notice your heating system is continuously running, but your home isn’t getting any warmer, you should turn it off and call a repair technician to come take a look.
2. Higher Energy Bills. If your heating system is running inefficiently, it uses more energy and fuel in order to keep your house warm. This can lead to an increase in your monthly energy bills. So, if you find yourself paying more and more for heating each month, even though you’re not cranking up the heat more than usual, there is most likely something wrong with your furnace.
3. Cold Air Instead of Hot Air. If you turn your heat on and cold air blows out, this is definitely a warning sign. Again, this can lead to you wasting money since your system is not running properly.

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:

• 56% – 70% AFUE
• Continuous pilot light
• Natural draft which creates a flow of combustion gases
• Heavy heat exchanger

Mid-efficiency heating systems:

• 80% – 83% AFUE
• Electronic ignition
• Small-diameter flue pipe
• Compact size/lighter weight to reduce cycling costs

High-efficiency heating systems:

• 90% – 98.5% AFUE
• Sealed combustion
• Condensing flue gases in a second heat exchanger

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.