annual fuel utilization efficiency Archives

HVAC Energy Efficiency Standards Are Going Up: What’s in Store for Your Southwest Illinois Home?Edit

July 22, 2014 May 14, 2021

Several years ago, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) established new HVAC energy efficiency standards in an effort to curb energy consumption. They divided the country into separate regions based on their heating and cooling needs and based the higher standards on each region’s need for heating and cooling. Southwest Illinois and St. Louis fall …

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Terms You Should Learn: AFUE, SEER and HSPF Edit

May 13, 2014 January 4, 2018

If you are considering adding to or upgrading your whole-house HVAC system, you should learn the terms AFUE, SEER, HSPF, among others. These acronyms all stand for efficiency rating systems for heating or cooling systems. By ensuring each system – whether it’s a furnace, heat pump or A/C – is the most efficient model you …

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Furnace On Its Last Leg? When To Repair Or Replace Edit

April 1, 2014 May 14, 2021

If you own a home, it’s likely that you’ll experience a broken furnace at some point. When your furnace does break, you’ll be faced with a challenging question. Is it better to replace or repair? There’s no hard and fast rule in the furnace repair or replace dilemma. Every furnace issue is unique. However, there …

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Installing a New HVAC System? Tips for Properly Sizing the Furnace Edit

February 25, 2014 December 22, 2017

When you’re getting ready to replace your home’s central heating system, it’s critical that you take the steps for sizing the furnace accurately. HVAC contractors use special load calculation software to start this process. The Air Conditioning Contractors of America’s Manual J is considered the industry standard when it comes to determining proper furnace size. …

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An Efficient Furnace Is a Good Buy in SW Illinois—but How Efficient?Edit

February 13, 2014 February 11, 2016

Furnace efficiency is an important factor in keeping your energy costs low. A furnace’s efficiency is measured by a percentage using the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. Available new furnaces come with AFUE ratings ranging from 78 percent for standard-efficiency models to 90-98 percent in high-efficiency condensing furnaces. The AFUE rating measures what percentage of …

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What’s a Condensing Gas Furnace? Read on, and Learn Why They Are Worth the Money Edit

February 11, 2014 February 11, 2016

If you are looking for a more efficient way to heat your home, you may be interested in learning more about condensing gas furnaces. They retain more heat during combustion, making them far more efficient than standard furnaces. Some condensing gas furnaces boast an AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating as high as 98 percent, …

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