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!

LINDSAY MOLLBERG
LINDSAY MOLLBERG
1730558995
The service was prompt and efficient. He explained it all and finished quickly. Also pleasure to talk to.
Kristi Peters
Kristi Peters
1730553632
We definitely had horrible water I think it was probably the worst Andrew has ever seen he said, and from what I can tell a day later our water is 100% better I can now wash my hair and feel clean. Definitely five stars and Andrew was very very friendly and explained everything wonderfully. Thanks you for doing such a great job.
Brian Albee
Brian Albee
1730519841
Jesse Hart
Jesse Hart
1730519104
Nicholas was extremely knowledgeable!
Matthew Oyen
Matthew Oyen
1730502092
Nicholas S did a great job
Lam Sirattanatray
Lam Sirattanatray
1730495283
They did an amazing job and were very professional
Mike Gilles
Mike Gilles
1730492235
Darren Jackson
Darren Jackson
1730485224
Jessi Ganzel
Jessi Ganzel
1730480899
Josiah and Joey were amazing. They were respectful of my home and dogs, found the issue quickly and cleaned up like they were never even there. Great, fast, wonderful service!
Linda Friberg
Linda Friberg
1730413304
The installer, Michael, was very nice and helpful. He explained everything. I’m very happy with the service.
SLHSAlum
SLHSAlum
1730413073
Deb Larson
Deb Larson
1730412126
Justin was very thorough in explaining everything. Knowledgeable about his work and skilled in making repairs. No pushy sales pressure but helpful in explaining our options and his recommendations. Comfortable experience.
Daniel Bakken
Daniel Bakken
1730409646
Scott Sayer
Scott Sayer
1730409519
Tom Igielski
Tom Igielski
1730408923
Friendly, competent tech came out. Pretty quickly determined the source of the problem and applied a fix. Problem solved!
Bruce Jaworski
Bruce Jaworski
1730405285
Thought they did a great job! Explained everything, answered our questions, cleaned up, etc. We are very pleased!
Joe Jelinek
Joe Jelinek
1730403110
Just had my water system filters replaced and the technician did a spectacular job with educating me on how I can do it myself the next time and the company is extremely educational and efficient. The water system itself has been spectacular and we love it!
Adam Scudder
Adam Scudder
1730397101
Joe Bethke
Joe Bethke
1730393916
Great service all around! Ryan and his trainee were very polite and efficient.
Debra Gilmore
Debra Gilmore
1730390227
Another awesome experience with Aquarius. Had the annual HVAC system checkup today. David was very knowledgeable, friendly and dedicated to his trade. Thanks again !!
Eric Ortman
Eric Ortman
1730386609
Pamela Jacobson
Pamela Jacobson
1730379789
Greg Lissick
Greg Lissick
1730377916
Mike, my HVAC service technician, was great. He was very knowledgeable and explained in detail all my options regarding my furnace issues. Highly recommend!
Michelle W
Michelle W
1730348132
Colton was very informative, patient and thorough. He was on time, helpful and professional. Thank you.
Susan Johnson
Susan Johnson
1730335381
Andrew was a great installer. He went out of his way to answer our questions and help make sure our needs were met.
E Pennington
E Pennington
1730333118
Andrew was great with communication, educating me on the system, offering me choices when applicable, great service all around! Thank you!
Bruce Henning
Bruce Henning
1730326333
Tom Stoltz
Tom Stoltz
1730321207
We had our HVAC system tuned up today by Nick & Carter. Great communication from the whole Aquarius team from scheduling to completion. Very thorough in their review of our system while onsite. They provided a great summary (easy to understand, pictures, etc.) of everything they went through & provided options/recommendations where necessary. Highly recommended!
Nicole Kuhl
Nicole Kuhl
1730318783
Seamus McKinsey
Seamus McKinsey
1730315885
Dawn Goodsell
Dawn Goodsell
1730310682
Justin and Andre are amazing. They are very professional and thorough, not to mention fun to chat with as they work! I want these 2 to service our products every time!
Laura Hudson
Laura Hudson
1730310372
Jay was great, he assessed the problem quickly. He was really kind and courteous through the entire appointment. Didn’t rush us when I had questions . Pleasure to work with
Joan Long
Joan Long
1730308717
Austin did wonderful job servicing my Kinetico home water system and drinking water system. He was on time, answered my questions and offered great advice on my systems. I would recommend him and Aquarius for your water needs.
Alyssa Stepan
Alyssa Stepan
1730307198
We had our water softener repaired and service was excellent. The tech was courteous and friendly. He explained what was going on and gave us an estimate for the work. The charge was what he said, no hard sales or add ons. He did a great job cleaning the area when he was done. We will definitely keep using Aquarius!
Cindy Bartels
Cindy Bartels
1730306303
Good work. Prompt. Right amount of talking and working.
Rhonda Hoida
Rhonda Hoida
1730301536
Josiah was great. Friendly, knowledgeable and considerate. He went above the call if duty. I highly recommend Josiah.
E.Brenda Cleary
E.Brenda Cleary
1730300328
Mike was very polite and knowledgeable about my drinking water and softener systems.
Karen Hites
Karen Hites
1730257424
Informative , given a written assessment, answered questions with easy to understand information
Nancy Anderson
Nancy Anderson
1730245620
Paul went above and beyond to fix our plumbing problem! The issue was extremely challenging and he was able to fix it without having to replace the entire fixture! Five Stars!
Terrie Kaminski
Terrie Kaminski
1730234477
The entire process has been extremely professional and the process smooth.
Michelle Dennard
Michelle Dennard
1730225795
Andrew was so pleasant and professional. It's staff like Andrew that makes you continue to be a customer with Aquarius Home Service. Thank you Andrew for your EXCELLENT customer service!
Janice B
Janice B
1730225460
Friendly, professional, knowledgeable, prompt and willing to answer all questions I had.
Dick Hansen
Dick Hansen
1730214163
Mike was very efficient and explained what he was doing and the results that were realized. Thank you.
Brad McNaught
Brad McNaught
1730160709
Connie
Connie
1730159036
Marcus went through the entire process step by step with me and explained in detail what needed to be done. Thank you Marcus!
Cole O'Brien
Cole O'Brien
1730151997
Nick did a great job identifying all problems with not just what we called on but also our other systems, and gave pricing options based on the recommended diagnosis. Very professional and quick service, thank you!
Mark Brown
Mark Brown
1730151378
Nate-Derek-Dylan-Derrin were here to put my new heat pump in. They were all very nice and got the job done. I would always recommend Aquarius to do the job for you. Thanks
Angela Muchlinski
Angela Muchlinski
1730150462
Jon was great! He was very thorough and maintained a good attitude while dealing with some unexpected issues. I learned a lot from his explanations in something I have very little experience in.
Werner Groth
Werner Groth
1730148617
Outstanding professional, clean, ethical, respectful and well mannered service. Colton and Tom did an outstanding job, efficient, good problem solving and clean. I extended and expanded my annual service contract with Aquarius due to the quality of their service and the OUTSTANDING way everyone in Aquarius treats their customers
×
js_loader
Skip to content