The cost to heat and cool your home adds up to more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s so important to find a system that offers quality comfort in your South Beloit and Belvidere home while still ensuring energy efficient. Greater energy efficiency means your system is working well while using less energy. Whether you are thinking about a replacement air conditioner or furnace or looking to upgrade your present equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to look out for 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, or rather, seasonally in South Beloit and Belvidere. A larger SEER rating indicates a higher energy efficiency, which will translate into lower utility bills. The Department of Energy demands 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 modern system.
AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric)
AFUE stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio and it measures the percentage of heat produced for every dollar of fuel consumed. You can think of 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 signifies 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 works 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 effectiveness. Again, the greater the number, the greater energy efficient the heat pump.
Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc in South Beloit and Belvidere offers equipment with the greatest energy efficiency ratings. If you are hesitant what the energy ratings are of the equipment in your home we would be glad to help you better comprehend to keep your home comfortable, while saving money. Give us a call at 877-389-2465 to arrange for an appointment with us.