It's safe to say that even with the random weather recently, most of the country has at least dealt with a little bit of winter. As we keep trying to figure out what's going to happen next with the weather, it's important to make certain that you've had furnace service scheduled when the weather finally switches to being cold consistently.
Part of owning and using a furnace involves some familiarization and understanding of the system itself. One of the most critical tidbits to know is your furnace's AFUE (Annual Furnace Utilization Efficiency). AFUE is denoted as a percentage that informs you of the type of efficiency you can expect out of your system. If you're unsure about your current furnace's AFUE, be sure to ask during your next furnace service appointment and the team member can help you learn it's rating.
What Does AFUE Mean for You?
If you have an older furnace, your AFUE is likely quite a bit lower than the furnaces out there now. What it boils down to is that with every passing season you're paying for fuel which then is being wasted, not to heat your home. A simple way to think about it is by relating your AFUE percentage to dollars. If your furnace has an AFUE of 75%, that means for every $100 you spend on fuel, only $75 is being used to heat your home. Again, your furnace service team member can help you figure out the numbers specific to your furnace and your normal bill, but hopefully we've been able to offer a relatively clear picture for you.
Of course there is more that factors in to your decision in buying a new furnace or sticking to an annual furnace service plan on your current system. Over time, efficiency levels can severely impact the comfort and cost of heating your home, so we wanted to be certain that you got a clearer look at one of the more important considerations for furnaces. If you want to know about furnaces, furnace service or any number of other home comfort questions, give us a shout at 308-321-4703.