The cost to heat and cool your home totals more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s crucial to look for a system that provides superior comfort in your Dresden home while still remaining energy efficient. Greater 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 look out for that will help you during the process. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings represent?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating considers the competence of your unit at different temperatures, in other words, seasonally in Dresden. A higher SEER rating denotes a larger energy efficiency, which will translate into smaller utility bills. The Department of Energy demands a minimum 13 SEER-rating for cooler states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for warmer, southern states. If your home has an aged unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see drastic energy savings after an upgrade.
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 created for every dollar of fuel used. You can think of 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 signifies 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 works to measure the heating effectiveness of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for winter as it only keeps track of your unit’s heating effectiveness. Similarly, the greater the number, the extra energy efficient the heat pump.
McFadden Heating & Cooling in Dresden offers equipment with the highest energy efficiency ratings. If you are uncertain what the energy ratings are of the equipment in your home we would be happy to help you better understand to keep your home content, while saving money. Give us a call at 1-866-781-0111 to arrange for an appointment with us.