What Is a Furnace Efficiency Rating? + What It Should Be

Everyone wants their furnace and other home appliances to work as efficiently as possible, right? But what does that actually mean?

  1. Does it mean using less power to run a furnace?
  2. Does it mean lower heating bills?
  3. Does it mean tax rebates or other financial benefits?

Chances are, if your home was built in the last 20 years, you definitely have an efficient furnace installed in your home. But before that, it might not be the case.

Before the 1990s, efficiency ratings weren’t a thing, but now, if you don’t have a good furnace efficiency rating, it could be a deal breaker. If you want to know what furnace efficiency really means and what you should look for in your own home, this guide can help.

The Benefits of Having an Efficient Furnace

One of the most obvious benefits of having an efficient furnace is that you’ll save money on your energy bills. A more efficient furnace will use less fuel to heat your home, which means you’ll see lower bills each month. In addition to saving you money, an efficient furnace can bring the following benefits:

furnace efficiency rating gloves

A Smaller Carbon Footprint 👣

Carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide and carbon compounds emitted due to fossil fuels consumption. A carbon footprint is measured in greenhouse gasses, and an average carbon footprint is between 16,000-22,000 pounds, while a “low” carbon footprint is anything below that.

A standard furnace has a carbon footprint of around 14,000 pounds, while a high-efficiency furnace has a carbon footprint of 10,500 pounds. This might not seem like much of a difference, but it does make a difference over time.

Fewer Emissions ⛽

Another benefit of having a more efficient furnace is that it emits fewer harmful toxins and chemicals into the air. This is not only better for the environment, but it’s also better for your health.

Efficient furnaces use less fuel to heat your home, which means there are fewer emissions released into the air. These emissions can cause respiratory problems, so it’s important to make sure your furnace is as efficient as possible.

Lower Risk of Fire 🔥

Having an efficient furnace is that it lowers the risk of fire. If you have an old, inefficient furnace, there’s a greater chance that it will overheat and start a fire. On the other hand, an efficient furnace uses less fuel and produces less heat, which means there’s a lower risk of it overheating and causing a fire.

Longer Lifespan ⏳

Another benefit of having an efficient furnace is that it has a longer lifespan. This is because an efficient furnace doesn’t have to work as hard as an inefficient one. As a result, it experiences less wear and tear, which means it can last for many years without needing to be replaced.

More Compact Design 🤏

If you’re tight on space, an efficient furnace is a great option because it’s more compact than an inefficient one. This is because efficient furnaces use less fuel, which means they don’t need as much space to store the fuel. As a result, they’re smaller in size, which makes them a great option for small homes.

What Is a Furnace Efficiency Rating?

A furnace efficiency rating is a measure of how efficient a furnace is. The higher the rating, the more efficient the furnace.

There are two main types of furnace efficiency ratings: AFUE and HSPF.

AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, and it’s the most common type of furnace efficiency rating. It measures the percentage of heat that a furnace produces compared to the amount of fuel it uses.

For example, if a furnace has an AFUE rating of 80%, that means it produces 80% of the heat it uses to heat your home. The other 20% is lost through the flue or chimney. Before the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 required new furnaces to be at least 78 percent efficient, furnaces at the time were releasing up to 40 percent of their heat outside— yikes!

Today, you’ll find much more efficient furnaces, with the standard being at least 80% efficient or more. Furnaces with furnace efficiency ratings of 90% would be considered a high-efficiency heating system.

HSPF stands for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, and it’s the second type of furnace efficiency rating. It measures the amount of heat a furnace produces compared to the amount of energy it uses.

For example, if a furnace has an HSPF rating of 9, that means it produces 9 units of heat for every unit of energy it uses. Furnaces with higher HSPF ratings are more efficient than those with lower ratings.

furnace efficiency rating worker

Understanding the Efficiency Rating of Furnaces

We just threw a lot of numbers and acronyms at you, and it can be hard to understand, so we’ll try to define them a little better.

To determine a furnace’s efficiency rating or its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, you need to do a little math. You’ll need to take the amount of fuel supplied to the heater and divide it by the amount of heat produced by the unit aka BTUs (British thermal units).

For example, if your furnace has a rating of 78%, 78% of its energy is actually being used for heating your home, while the other 22% is being lost through chimneys, basement walls, or other inefficiencies in the system.

Save Money With a New, Efficient Furnace

While the upfront cost of a new furnace may be higher than repairing an old furnace, you’ll save money in the long run because of the increased efficiency. In fact, you could save hundreds of dollars every year on your energy bills.

Plus, you may be eligible for certain rebates or tax credits when you install a new, efficient furnace. For example, you may be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $500 if you install a qualifying high-efficiency furnace in your home.

To find out if you’re eligible for any rebates or tax credits, check with your local utility company or the government’s Energy Star website.

The most important thing to remember when shopping for a new furnace is to look for one with a high-efficiency rating. The higher the rating, the more efficient the furnace, and the more money you’ll save on your energy bills.

Hire Aquarius Home Services for Your Furnace Needs

Aquarius Home Services has been in the business of keeping homes warm for years. We’re a locally-owned and operated business, and we take great pride in our work.

When you hire us to install your new furnace, you can rest assured that it will be done right, with energy efficiency being a priority. We’re licensed, bonded, and insured, and our technicians are highly trained and experienced. 

Contact us today to save money with a new and improved furnace!

Corinne Klitzke
Corinne Klitzke
1739645858
Heather Reynolds
Heather Reynolds
1739644317
Max was very helpful!
Bill Enloe
Bill Enloe
1739570182
Pete Hayes
Pete Hayes
1739565324
Was a bit hesitant on keeping up with Kinetico!! But your two service techs ( Justin and Hannah)went above and beyond what I was expecting!! They spent so much energy and information related to my issues , making it a pleasant experience. Like I gained two new friends. Plus explained how a different service should take care further issues. Definitely would like to see them for my next service!!! Even got my wife back on board. Thanks again. Pete Hayes
Debbie Doyle
Debbie Doyle
1739561479
Aquarius came out this morning and replaced two toilets and did some plumbing work downstairs all in one morning. The plumber, Joe, was efficient, answers questions, provided helpful information, and was very friendly and personable. I will DEFINITELY use Aquarius again.
Matt Van Beusekom
Matt Van Beusekom
1739558449
Excellent and efficient work. Would definitely recommend!
Josey Dooley
Josey Dooley
1739557030
Amazing service!
Jessica Tracy
Jessica Tracy
1739556713
Gordon was very friendly and knowledgeable - makes the visit/process so much easier.
James M
James M
1739555300
After months of high water bills and feeling itchy, the Aquarius team came to the rescue. My 25 year old kinetico softener finally gave up and was constantly cycling. At the end of the service call we realized the old unit wasn't worth repairing. They sent out a salesperson the same day, providing a great range of options to fit my price point. My new softener arrived early so we were able to move up the install date. Install was flawless and we're back to having the softest water ever. I'm super happy with every interaction I've had with the Aquarius team. They are all super friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. I rarely leave reviews and only leave them when I'm really impressed. That's definitely the case with this company.
Brian Hagen
Brian Hagen
1739551834
Steve Sherwood
Steve Sherwood
1739551765
Great service. Prompt and knowledgeable
Peter T
Peter T
1739551605
Dirk did a good job communicating and installing the system. Recommend.
Nancy Lahmann
Nancy Lahmann
1739551066
Dylan checked boiler and did a thorough inspection. Very polite. He also knocked off a big ice chunk outside …extra service and much appreciated.
Ann Marie Haerter
Ann Marie Haerter
1739550777
Friendly, efficient, knowledgeable
Kenneth Schwebach
Kenneth Schwebach
1739498359
Great service tec! She was very knowledgeable and helpful.
Neal Kempel
Neal Kempel
1739497034
First, Aquarius responded to my interest in an RO system promptly. After deciding to commit to their solution, the installation, Including a water softner solution, it was scheduled the same week. Michael was the installer and he called when in transit and arrived right on schedule. We went over the work to be done and the placement of the equipment with only one issue that arose. The RO and water softener installation would not be a problem, but plumbing for the outdoor outlets would require additional material and labor, not included in the quote. I was looking forward to using the outdoor faucets without switching the system over. We elected to continue with the installation and Michael kept us informed throughout the day of his progress and completion time. He had everything cleaned up and provided us with a review of the system. To date, we are very pleased with the system and want to thank Michael for a great install. My only recommendation to Aquarius would be to take an additional step, during the initial meeting possibly, and physically look at the plumbing to ensure the quote covers all the materials to meet the customer request.
Jacqueline Garberg
Jacqueline Garberg
1739496644
Wyatt was thorough, considerate, a trusted service professional! Thank you!
Deb N
Deb N
1739489085
Tyler from Aquarius Home Services did a great job! He was extremely knowledgeable and helpful.
Jeffrey Ek
Jeffrey Ek
1739486327
The techs are always very cordial, explain what they are doing, and in and out as quickly as makes sense. Having said that, I’ve never felt that they rushed through their work.
Keith Wolff
Keith Wolff
1739485872
Everything was checked out and explained the tech was very informative would recommend them. Thank you!
Jessica Fisher
Jessica Fisher
1739484813
We have had our Aquarius services longer than a decade. During this time, the equipment has never failed us, but more importantly we have received absolutely outstanding customer service anytime we have needed anything. Today was no different, Wyatt came to our house to do our periodic inspection and was able to help troubleshoot a problem and find a solution the very same day. The entire time he was here, he kept his workspace, clean and orderly, and he was very polite and respectful of our home. The shocker came when he was about to leave and told me this was his fifth day On his own! Very impressed, not only with him as a person, but the quality of employees that come out out of Aquarius. Highly recommend this company.
Jane Ogren
Jane Ogren
1739484717
Friendly and knowledgeable
Mike Gunderson
Mike Gunderson
1739483907
I had an old furnace that was on its last legs and needed to be replaced ASAP.Day one: Service Tech arrived 2 hours after initial contact with Aquarius. Sales Rep arrived within an hour of the request. Deal was made and installation appointment scheduled for the NEXT DAY!Day two: Contacted by the installation team at 7:00 am. Arrived at 7:30. Finished up by 2:30.All of the staff that I dealt with were friendly, professional and great to work with. They explained everything very well. I was expecting to wait 2-3 weeks for a new furnace and A/C. This was all done inside of two days. I would 100% recommend Aquarius to anyone needing any type of home service.Tall Mike, Mike Sippel, Chris Oigard, Dave and Luke it was great to work with you. Thanks for everything!Oh, they like dogs too.
Katie Raymond
Katie Raymond
1739481339
Sue Ufheil
Sue Ufheil
1739471348
Colton was very professional and explained everything he was doing. Very happy with service today.
Jarrod Wieland
Jarrod Wieland
1739470866
James Grant
James Grant
1739469886
Wonderful experience with Andrew & Joey , installed new efficient electric water heater . Courteous , clean , efficient, highly recommended
Jeremy Ruth
Jeremy Ruth
1739468208
Justin and Hana were super friendly and they helped figure out an issue with our RO system. Great appt
James Dixon
James Dixon
1739466779
Creative problem solver, pleasant personality, efficient and cleaned up well.
Michael Sayre
Michael Sayre
1739466564
Donna Thomas
Donna Thomas
1739447807
Marcus diagnosed the problem and resolved it quickly. Our radiant floor heating warmed up within a few hours. Thank you!
Roger Zopfi
Roger Zopfi
1739418494
Russell S
Russell S
1739405103
Mike was exceptional, accommodating, competent and cheerful.
Kay H
Kay H
1739400941
Thanks to Andrew (water system), Josiah and John (Plumbers), Mike (HVAC maintenance), Thomas (HVAC Tech), Brad and Jeff (HVAC Installers)! Everyone went the extra mile to be helpful, provided excellent service and high quality work. Thanks for making an unexpected situation less painful. Well done everyone!Update: had electrical panel upgraded - all of the electricians were professional but friendly, provided great customer service and did a superb job. Thanks to David, Eric, Mao, Luke and Nate for their hard work.
Michelle Akkerman
Michelle Akkerman
1739400287
He replaced drinking water system filters, disinfected it and tested water.he was very professional and let us know what parts needed to be replaced and completed the work.
Amber Jorgenson
Amber Jorgenson
1739396821
Marlene Grant
Marlene Grant
1739394537
Josiah was on time, friendly, and did the work we expected to do. Additionally evaluated our water heater and solved our potential problems. He also helped us purchase a new water heater to replace our 18 year old unit . We are extremely happy with Josiah’s service .
Lorraine Nelson
Lorraine Nelson
1739383224
Mike was on time with good communication . Even brought his own door mat ! And wore shoe coverings...very pleasant and friendly. We had an issue with water not being soft when it should have been, and he did some exploring and found a few issues then gave us recommedations and options. He took the time needed to find and resolve the problem, and patiently answered our questions. We will request him on the next routine maintenance call. Very happy and recommend Mike !
Dawn Resemius
Dawn Resemius
1739379385
Erin Malone
Erin Malone
1739370834
Efficient and friendly service. They got the job done and explained everything well. Conscientious about the pets and leaving things clean. He reviewed our file and was prepared!
Charles Michael Halderman
Charles Michael Halderman
1739319783
Ryan was prompt, attentive, knowledgeable, and courteous.Fixed our issue.Highly recommend!!
Rosanne Thompson
Rosanne Thompson
1739318656
We had a leaking garbage disposal, it also involved some very old pipes. I called Aquarius for service. Max Richardson did an excellent job installing and discovering pipes that were about to burst. Thanks Max for a job well done. I feel like I have my old kitchen back.
Jon Pratt
Jon Pratt
1739314536
Josiah did an excellent job replacing my water heater. He arrived on time , was extremely professional, and took the time to explain the installation process as well as the features on the new water heater. The job was completed efficiently, and everything works perfectly. Excellent job!
Ben Triplett
Ben Triplett
1739312868
Erik was fantastic at his job. He spotted the problem and new what to do. He had the toilet fixed and was on his way in no time at all.
Craig Nystrom
Craig Nystrom
1739311737
Dave did a great job again. He checks thing over very well and diagnosed the furnace issues. Unfortunately we have decided to go with a brand new furnace and filtration system due to the repairs needed on my 12yr old system.
Jerry Chapman
Jerry Chapman
1739310377
Pre- Installation check was professional, quick and courteous.
Angela Pautz
Angela Pautz
1739308747
Dirk was great to work with. He kept us updated on the install and walked us through the eqpt. Thank You
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