The cost to heat and cool your home totals more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s imperative to find a system that provides superior comfort in your Beckley and Mount Hope home while still remaining energy efficient. Better energy efficiency means your system is working well while using less energy. Whether you are looking into a replacement air conditioner or furnace or considering to upgrade your existing equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to be aware of that will help you during the procedure. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings indicate?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating reflects the competence of your unit at different temperatures, meaning, seasonally in Beckley and Mount Hope. A higher SEER rating indicates a greater energy efficiency, which will turn into smaller utility bills. The Department of Energy requires a minimum 13 SEER-rating for colder states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for hotter, southern states. If your home has an mature unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see radical energy savings after an modern system.
AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric)
AFUE stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio and it keeps track of the percentage of heat generated for every dollar of fuel expended. You can look at it as the MPG on your car. The greater the AFUE-rating, the less your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that denotes that 80% of the heat created is consumed to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is misplaced through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and is used to measure the heating productivity of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the winter season as it only keeps track of your unit’s heating efficiency. Similarly, the higher the number, the greater energy efficient the heat pump.
Appalachian Heating in Beckley and Mount Hope presents equipment with the highest energy efficiency ratings. If you are hesitant what the energy ratings are of the equipment in your home we would be happy to help you better comprehend to keep your home content, while saving money. Give us a call at 304-707-0600 to arrange for an appointment with us.