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Written by Kendall Richards | December 19, 2019
When shopping for a gas furnace, you will find that all furnaces feature an AFUE rating. This is an important factor that will help you choose the right furnace for your budget and your home’s comfort needs, but it’s also a rating that people often do not understand. If you find yourself confused about AFUE ratings, this guide will help you understand their meaning and how they relate to your furnace purchase.
As you shop for a new furnace, make sure you’re getting the right one. Call All Comfort Services at (608) 838-7300.
AFUE stands for annualized fuel utilization efficiency. This is a rating based on the efficiency standard for all heating systems sold in the United States. This is an important number to understand, because about half of your home’s energy goes into your heating and cooling system.
The AFUE is a ratio found by comparing the amount of heat created to every dollar spent on fuel to create that heat. This is similar to the MPG rating on a car. A high AFUE rating means you are getting more heat for every dollar you spend on fuel, so a higher number means more efficiency.
If you see an AFUE rating of 80%, this means that 80% of the fuel used turns into heat, so about 20% is wasted. This is quite a bit of waste. Typically speaking, any AFUE rating of 90% or higher is considered good efficiency, and you can even find systems with a 95 or 98.7% rating, depending on the brand and model you choose.
The more efficient a furnace is, the more it will cost to purchase. A high AFUE rating can mean a high initial cost for your furnace. Yet, you will save on energy costs over the life of the furnace, so you may recoup this cost as you use the furnace. One way to determine the most cost-effective option is to use an energy savings calculator. Try to find a furnace that will save more in energy costs than you will spend in additional installation costs.
AFUE ratings are not hard to understand, but you may still find yourself wondering what the best system for your needs is. The experts at All Comfort Services want to take some of the guesswork out of buying an HVAC system. Let our knowledgeable team put or 50 years of experience to work for you, helping you find the right heating system.
Call All Comfort Services at (608) 838-7300 or contact us online to learn more about buying an energy-efficient furnace for your home.
Kendall was president of All Comfort Services for 18 years and retired in 2023. “My best experience here is working as a team to serve customers by responding to their requests along with our team,” says Kendall. “I believe in servant leadership, and I am responsible for every team member and every customer.” He says, “Great customers make the daily demands of running a fast-paced business easy. It’s rewarding when a customer shows us they appreciate the extraordinary effort we put forth.”
