The cost to heat and cool your home adds up to more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s crucial to search for a system that delivers excellent comfort in your Zelienople home while still ensuring energy efficient. Higher energy efficiency means your system is operating well while using less energy. Whether you are looking into a replacement air conditioner or furnace or looking to upgrade your current 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 considers the efficiency of your unit at different temperatures, meaning, seasonally in Zelienople. A greater SEER rating denotes a higher 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 older unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see radical energy savings after an improvement.
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 used. You can consider it as the MPG on your car. The greater the AFUE-rating, the lower your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that means that 80% of the heat generated is consumed to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is wasted through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and operates to keep track of the heating efficiency of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the colder months as it only determines your unit’s heating efficiency. Like the others, the larger the number, the more energy efficient the heat pump.
Knoechel Heating Company in Zelienople offers equipment with the best energy efficiency ratings. If you are hesitant what the energy ratings are of the system in your home we would be happy to help you better understand to keep your home comfortable, while saving money. Give us a call at 724-425-5852 to schedule an appointment with us.