Why Is the AFUE Rating Important for Home Heating?

When shopping for a new furnace, one of your chief concerns is efficiency. How much energy will the unit use in making your home comfortable? There are a number of factors that determine this, but the quickest way to find out is to look at the AFUE.

HVAC Heat Production

The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating is a measurement of how much heat your system produces for the amount of energy it consumes. To determine the rating, the manufacturers divide the total BTUs of heat the unit gives off in a year by the total BTUs of energy it expends in that time. Multiply that figure by 100, and you get a percentage. That's the AFUE.

For example, if a furnace has an AFUE rating of 85, that means 85% of the energy it uses is given off as heat and the other 15% is vented as exhaust. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. All gas furnaces sold in the United States must be rated at least 80%, while oil-fired boilers must be at least 84%.

Getting Optimum Efficiency

The most efficient furnaces on the market are rated 98.5%. However, these models tend be prohibitively expensive. On a practical level, anything above 85% is great, particularly if you're upgrading from a less-efficient model.

It also helps to look for features that improve energy efficiency. For instance, modulating furnaces adjust the amount of gas burned as needed based on how cold the house actually is in order to minimize waste. A variable-speed air handler does the same with airflow, regulating the amount of air that circulates as needed, so the system doesn't just run full blast all the time.

Finally, look for the blue Energy Star logo on any furnace model you're considering. This means it's been proven to save money and energy over similar models while still providing the same level of comfort and basic features.

To ensure your HVAC system runs at peak efficiency all year long, contact us at Air Assurance. We provide quality home-comfort solutions to Broken Arrow.

What is AFUE and How Does It Work?

When you’re looking at new gas furnaces, you might notice that they have an AFUE rating. What is AFUE? This refers to the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating, which measures how efficient a gas furnace is. Knowing what is AFUE can help ensure that you choose the best gas furnace for your home in Broken Arrow.

How Does the AFUE Rating Work?

What is AFUE? The AFUE rating lets you know how well a gas furnace is able to turn natural gas into energy. You’ll see the AFUE rating as a percentage on descriptions of gas furnaces. The percentage tells you how much of the energy that a gas furnace uses turns into actual heat. For example, an AFUE rating of 85% would mean that 85% of the energy a gas furnace uses is turned into heat. What happens to the remaining energy? The other 15% is energy that the gas furnace consumes during the process of heating your home. A higher AFUE rating indicates that a gas furnace is more energy-efficient compared to furnaces with lower AFUE ratings.

What AFUE Rating Should a Gas Furnace Have?

New gas furnaces must have an AFUE rating of at least 78%, so you won’t see any that go below this amount. AFUE ratings can vary considerably, but what is AFUE (and what value is it?) if you can't get a furnace with a higher rating. For example, a gas furnace with an AFUE rating of 95% will provide much better energy efficiency than a gas furnace with an AFUE rating of 80%. In general, gas furnaces with AFUE ratings between 80% and 85% are considered mid-efficiency furnaces. Those that range between 90% to 97% are considered high-efficiency furnaces. Keep in mind that a higher AFUE rating results in more energy savings, since your new gas furnace will be heating your home more efficiently.

Now, you won't have to ask "What is AFUE?" ever again. If you’re looking for a new furnace for your Broken Arrow home, please contact Air Assurance. Our HVAC experts can help you choose a new furnace with a higher AFUE rating so you can save on energy costs.

All You Need to Know About BTU Ratings for Furnaces

BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is a measure of energy – about what a four-inch wooden match puts out when it's burned all the way down. BTU ratings for furnaces are the industry standard for measuring a furnace's heating efficiency.Along with the AFUE, which measures how well a furnace turns energy (such as gas) into heat, BTU is one of the key ratings for understanding your furnace's efficiency.

Average BTU ratings

You may see furnaces discussed in terms of BTU input, BTU output, total BTUs and BTUs per square foot. The input BTU is the amount of energy a furnace requires to run, while the output is the amount of energy delivered to your home as heat. Many experts recommend that you buy a furnace which delivers 40 to 45 BTUs per square foot. You should analyze your home to see what size furnace you need to keep warm.

BTUs in Your Home

Furnaces cover a wide range of BTUs, from small 40,000 BTU models to large units rated at over 200,000 BTUs. While it might be tempting to get a large model (on the grounds you'll always have enough heat) or a smaller model (hoping to save money), neither choice is wise. An oversized furnace can overheat your home and shut off more frequently to cool down, resulting in excess wear and tear and temperature swings. An undersized furnace, on the other hand, will struggle to keep your home warm, leading to reduced home comfort and furnace strain.

Always speak to your local HVAC experts to learn what size furnace is right for your home. If you'd like to learn more about BTU ratings for furnaces and AFUE efficiency ratings for your Broken Arrow home, contact Air Assurance today!

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If You're Buying a New Furnace, Do Your Prep Work First

Even though buying a new furnace can be a daunting expense, the improved efficiency of modern furnaces can save homeowners considerably on their heating bills. In our area, where winter temperatures may be quite cold, it won't take too many years to recoup the initial outlay for a more efficient furnace. Following are some pointers to help guide you while you are hunting for a new furnace. 

Why Size Is Important

Getting a furnace that is bigger than you need might sound like a good idea, in terms of really warming your home quickly. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. A furnace that is sized too large will short cycle, turning on and off too frequently, never really heating the entire home and causing extra wear and tear on the furnace. On the other hand, a furnace that is too small to heat your home adequately will have to run all the time and will cost you a lot in utility bills. Make sure your contractor uses the standard HVAC software, Manual J, to size your furnace correctly.

Understand the Importance of AFUE

You need to know how quickly your new furnace converts fuel to heating energy. So, look for the annual fuel utilization efficiency number, which is reflected in a percentage. It tells you how much of the energy that the furnace uses converts to heating for your home.Federal regulations require that all furnaces have an AFUE of at least 78 percent. A higher AFUE gives your furnace a higher efficiency rating.

Choose Features You Need

Choose a furnace that has features you need. For example, a furnace with an ignition system might be ideal because its intermittent direct spark helps increase efficiency. It also improves the AFUE rating. Also, an air filtration system might be helpful if you have asthma or lung disease because it reduces the dust particles in the system.

Call us at Air Assurance if you're buying a new furnace. With more than 25 years serving the Broken Arrow and Tulsa area, we can help you keep your home comfortable this winter.

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HVAC Efficiency Standards Will Look a Little Different Come 2015

In April 2014, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) implemented changes to HVAC efficiency standards. These changes will go into effect on January 1, 2015, and apply to both commercial and residential equipment. Understanding these changes are important to homeowners who may be in need of a new furnace, air conditioner or split system heat pump.  What Is Changing?

• Starting on January 1, 2015, new Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) standards will go into effect for all newly installed heat pumps and air conditioners. These standards will differ by region. In most areas, including Oklahoma, the 13 SEER standard for air conditioners will increase to 14 SEER.

• All areas of the country will move to new split system heat pump regulations. A new heat pump efficiency standard of 14 SEER and 8.2 Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) will be enforced nationally. A HSPF value measures the efficiency of air-source heat pumps and helps homeowners understand the relative efficiency of different models.

• Also in 2015, all new gas furnaces will require an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) value of 80 percent. This value measures the efficiency of the furnace and the ability to condense water out of flue gasses for future use. Homeowners will notice that units with a AFUE value of 90 percent or better are identified as "condensing" products for their ability to efficiently recoup and condense gasses.

If you are in the market for new HVAC components, or if you have any questions about HVAC efficiency standards, contact our team at Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing. We have proudly served the Tulsa metropolitan area for nearly 30 years, and we're ready to help you understand these changing standards.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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HVAC Terms That Are Handy to Know

When speaking with an HVAC professional about your system, you may become confused when they use HVAC terms to describe your system. If you know and understand some of the basic terms that are used in the HVAC industry, you'll be on top of what all the professional terminology means.Here are some of the basic HVAC terms that you'll hear when a heating or air conditioning system is being described.

• HVAC -- (H)eating, (V)entilation and (A)ir (C)onditioning comprises your entire HVAC heating and cooling system.

• BTU -- Describes how much heating capacity your HVAC system has. The higher the BTU rating, the greater its heating ability.

• Ton -- How much cooling capacity your central air conditioning has. Just like a BTU unit, the more tons your air conditioner has, the greater its cooling ability.

• AFUE -- Stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency, and refers directly to how efficient your furnace is. The higher the AFUE number, the more efficient the system.

• SEER -- The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is how the efficiency of air conditioners is classified. The higher the SEER number, the more efficient the system.

• MERV Rating -- MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. It directly relates to how efficient your HVAC system filter is, and the higher the MERV rating, the more efficient it is at trapping dirt, dust, smoke and pollen particles.

• Off-Grid -- Going "off-grid" means you have your own power source, like solar panels or a windmill, and are able to disconnect from your local utility service provider.

• Energy Star -- A product designation from the Environmental Protection Agency that promises an Energy Star product meets or beats EPA energy efficient guidelines.

If you'd like to know more about HVAC terms and what they mean, contact Air Assurance. We'll answer your questions and provide outstanding service for all of your HVAC needs. Serving the Tulsa metropolitan area for more than 50 years.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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Regional Efficiency Standards: A Settlement Has Been Reached

Recently, regional efficiency standards for HVAC equipment have been changed by the industry and the Department of Energy. Let's go over what this means for your household.

In 2006, the standard SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) for air conditioners and heat pumps was raised from 10 to 13. In 2010, equipment manufacturers partnered with efficiency specialists to develop new regional efficiency standards, accounting for different climate conditions throughout the US. In the South and Southwest, SEER requirements were raised to 14, while they remained at 13 in the North.

Equivalent regional efficiency standards and adjustments have also been set for other equipment, such as gas furnaces.

However, the proposed January 2015 adjustments posed a few issues for manufacturers and distributors, so a new agreement has been reached with the DOE. It affects different equipment and regions in different ways.

Before we jump into the new rules, let’s go over a few terms. SEER we’ve already discussed. HSPF is related to heat pump efficiency, and stands for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. AFUE is for furnaces, and stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency.

These new regional efficiency standards apply to all equipment manufactured after January 2015.

• Split system air conditioners: SEER 14 (This number applies specifically to the South, including Oklahoma.)

• Single package air conditioners: SEER 14

• Split system heat pumps: SEER 14, HSPF 8.2

• Single package heat pumps: SEER 14, HSPF 8.0

• Small-duct, high-velocity systems: SEER 13, HSPF 7.7

• Space-constrained air conditioners and heat pumps: SEER 12 (Heat pumps must meet an HSPF of 7.4.)

• Gas-fired furnaces: AFUE 80%

While these numbers will become regional efficiency standards as of January 2015, there’s an 18-month grace period for distributors to sell through equipment manufactured before then.

These developments don't mean you’ll be forced to upgrade your equipment. They do mean that if you purchase new equipment made in 2015 or later, it will comply with these standards, saving you money and reducing your impact on the environment.

Let us know if you have questions. Air Assurance has been serving the Greater Tulsa metro area since 1985, and we’ll be happy to help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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Efficient Furnaces Are the Rage, but How Efficient Should Yours Be?

Replacing a furnace is a big decision that will affect your energy bills and comfort for the next several years of your life. One of the most important aspects to determine is how efficient of a furnace you should buy.

The Mark of Efficient Furnaces

It is really easy to compare the efficiency of different furnaces by looking at their annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. This rating is a measure of what percent of fuel is converted into the heat.

A highly efficient furnace will waste less fuel, which leads to lower energy bills. The highest efficiency units on the market today can achieve almost 100 percent AFUE. However, higher efficiency furnaces typically cost more up-front. If you stick to a furnace in the standard efficiency range you can still see AFUE ratings of around 80 percent.

How Efficiency and Cost Combine

Cost is one of the most important factors for a big purchase. So while a higher efficiency is slightly better for the environment, the biggest difference for the average homeowner comes from the cost.

Keep the following in mind when looking at furnaces:

• Typical usage: If you run it a lot, then efficiency matters more. A higher efficiency furnace will save you more as your usage increases.

• Utility costs: Check out the cost of your local utilities. If the cost is really high, it makes sense to want to minimize the use of them by getting a more efficient unit.

• Your home: This is related to your usage as well. If your home is not well-insulated, it will lose a lot of heat. This means your furnace will have to run more to compensate, and again a higher efficiency would be important.

While you might have a good feel for the level of efficiency you're looking for among efficient furnaces, an HVAC contractor should be able to run multiple cost estimates of different models to get a concrete answer. Contact us at Air Assurance to get help finding the perfect furnace for your Oklahoma home.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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Right Furnace Sizing: It's Fundamental for Comfort, Savings

Right Furnace Sizing: It's Fundamental for Comfort, Savings

When you're choosing a new heating system, the most important step is the furnace sizing process. It involves a thorough analysis of your home to find the right Btus (British thermal units) so that you avoid installing a system that's too big or too small.Heating equipment that's too large will short cycle, which means it runs in short spurts and shuts off quickly, leaving you chilled between cycles. This drives up your energy bills, increases the wear and tear on the equipment and can cause rust in the heat exchanger, which may prompt an early furnace replacement.One that's too small will leave you cold when the weather is exceptionally cold, and it will run continually, increasing energy bills and wear of all the components.Your contractor should use software tools called Manuals J, D and S to select the best size for your home before you select the energy efficiency of the system. The inputs include your home's energy efficiency, its cubic footage, floorplan layout and your lifestyle.The result of this furnace sizing exercise will yield the Btus you need, and from there, you can move onto selecting the AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency). The minimum you can purchase is 80, and the ratings go as high as 98. The AFUE indicates how much of the fuel the system actually uses for heat. In the case of an 80 AFUE system, it uses 80 percent and wastes the other 20 percent.If your home needs 80,000 Btus of capacity and you select a furnace with an 80 AFUE, it means that you'll need a furnace that has a capacity of 96,000 Btus. By selecting a system with a 90 AFUE, you'll only need a system with 88,000 Btus. Selecting a more efficient system will cut your energy bills each time it turns on.The experts at Air Assurance can help you with furnace sizing and selecting the best AFUE for the short and long term. Please contact us to learn more. We've provided outstanding HVAC services for the Broken Arrow area for nearly 30 years.Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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Buying A New Furnace: Understand AFUE Ratings Before You Choose

If your heating equipment was on the fritz at the end of last heating season, the time is now to upgrade your furnace. Amongst other things, it is imperative that you know how to read and understand the annual fuel utilization efficiency, or AFUE ratings that are displayed on all new furnace models. Here's why:What AFUE isAFUE ratings are a measurement of how well a furnace is able to change the energy within its fuel into usable heat throughout the course of a year. To be more specific, AFUE serves as the ratio of the furnace's annual output of heat versus the total amount of energy that is consumed by the boiler. All new heating equipment including both furnaces and boilers is required to display AFUE ratings so that consumers are able to easily make comparisons between the efficiency of various models.What the numbers meanWhen it comes to AFUE, the larger the number you see, the more efficient the furnace is. As an example, if a furnace has been assigned an AFUE rating of 85 percent, you will know that 85 percent of the energy from its fuel will be efficiently converted into heat from your home. The remaining 15 percent will be lost through your flue pipe, pilot light, or other means of losing efficiency.Other considerations when looking at AFUE ratingsFirst, it is important to keep in mind that AFUE does not take the losses of heat within your duct system or piping into consideration. If your home's ducts are located in your attic, you can expect that as much as 35 percent of your furnace's energy output could be lost. Your HVAC contractor can advise you on the best heating systems for a home with such a duct system. In addition, you should know that bigger is not always better with AFUE. Electric furnaces tend to have AFUE ratings between 95 - 100 percent, for example, but the higher costs of electricity over gas make these an uneconomical decision.For more advice on understanding furnace efficiency ratings, contact the professionals at Air Assurance. We proudly serve residents of the Tulsa and Broken Arrow areas.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Install Any Of These Energy-Efficient Products, And Get A Credit On Your 2011 Taxes

If you’ve been considering energy-efficient upgrades to your heating and cooling system, don’t hesitate. Act now to take advantage of 2011 tax credits for energy efficiency. In an effort to improve energy efficiency in Oklahoma and throughout the nation, the federal government is offering cash back on eligible upgrades, including:

• Central air conditioning

• Electric heat pumps

• Furnaces and boilers

• Advanced main air circulating fans

To qualify for these generous tax credits, your chosen installations must meet certain criteria. For instance, central air conditioners may be eligible for $300 back provided they meet these minimum requirements:

• Split systems – 13 EER and 16 SEER

• Package systems – 12 EER and 14 SEER

Electric heat pumps are also eligible for $300 in tax credits, provided they meet these minimum requirements:

• Split systems – 8.5 HSPF, 12.5 EER, and 15 SEER

• Package systems – 8 HSPF, 12 EER, and 14 SEER

To qualify for $150 back, furnaces and boilers must meet these minimum requirements:

• Natural gas or propane furnace – 95 AFUE

• Oil furnace – 90 AFUE

• Gas, propane or oil hot water boiler – 90 AFUE

You may also be eligible for money back on qualifying advanced main air circulating fans:

• If furnace qualifies - $50 back if your fan uses less than 2 percent of the energy consumed by the furnace

• If furnace doesn’t qualify – 30 percent back on the cost of the fan

With such generous tax credits on the table, it just doesn’t make sense to put off energy-efficient HVAC upgrades. If you have a system that is in need of replacement, let our trained technicians help you find an appropriate tax-eligible upgrade. For an expert consultation, contact Air Assurance today!Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

Furnace On Its Last Legs? High-Efficiency Furnaces Are More Than Just A New Model

Choosing the right furnace can seem overwhelming.  There are many different types of units and options to choose from.  However, there is one choice that can be easy.  If your furnace has seen better days, replacing it with one of the newer high efficiency furnaces can make a big difference for your energy bills and comfort.High efficiency furnaces help homeowners see significant heating cost savings throughout the life of the furnace.  They are also the best choice for people wishing to be environmentally conscious.  All furnaces now come with an “Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency” rating or AFUE.  This rating tells the consumer how much of the fuel the furnace turns into heat.Beginning in 1992, new furnaces were required to have an AFUE of at least 78 percent.  This means that all new furnaces must turn 78 percent of the fuel they use into heat.  While most manufacturers list their models as “high efficiency,” the U.S. Department of Energy defines high efficiency furnaces as units that utilize at least 90 percent of energy they consume into heat.  AFUE ratings between 78 percent and 90 percent are classified as “mid-efficiency.”  If you have a furnace that is older than that, furnace AFUE ratings could be as low as 55 percent.The simple math to figure out possible energy savings can come by looking at the difference in your gas bills from summer months (when the furnace is not working) and the winter months (when the furnace is).  If you know the AFUE rating of your furnace and the AFUE of the potential new furnace you are choosing between, you can take the percentage difference from those heating bills.  For example, you currently have a 65% AFUE furnace because it was installed around 20 years ago.  A new furnace with a rating of 95% could save you 30% off your winter heating bills.  This is a conservative way to analyze your potential savings.Replacing an outdated unit with a high efficiency furnace can cost between $2,000 and $3,500, but many homeowners recoup those costs in just a few years.  (A high efficiency furnace costs approximately $500 to $1,500 more than a new mid-efficiency furnace.)  The savings a homeowner will see depends on several factors including the price of the system, energy costs in your area, climate, and the difference in efficiency between your old heater and the new heater.There are also options on heating units that include variable speed blowers.  This allows air to move more freely, and "ramp" up and down based upon need.  This can also allow you to leave the fan on during milder temperatures in order to circulate air (without the noise) for better air filtration, as well as evening out temperatures throughout the home to eliminate hot and cold spots.Other options include 2 stage or modulating heating.  This allows the furnaces to use only the BTU heating that is needed to keep you comfortable.  In other words, if you only need a little heat, it only uses a little bit of gas.  But when temperatures drop, the furnace will automatically go into the higher stage of heat.  These functions create a more even temperature, and better comfort levels throughout the home.In addition to the money savings, more efficient units reduce the negative impact of energy consumption on the environment.  By turning more energy into actual heat, theses furnaces use less total energy.  This means that less pollution is released into the atmosphere.  If you are considering replacing your furnace Air Assurance is happy to offer expert advice or answer any questions you might have.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information, click here. Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas.  To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.