Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Bud Anderson Home Services
“What do I need to know about high efficiency furnaces?” Answer sponsored by:
Answer: The gas, propane, and oil furnaces of the past can’t hold a candle (or, perhaps more appropriately, a pilot light) to the efficiency and effectiveness of systems today. The efficiency of heating systems is commonly measured using an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) score. Simply put, the heater’s AFUE percentage is the amount of heat energy that can be extracted from the fuel, versus how much of that fuel’s energy potential is wasted. A gas furnace with 70% AFUE converts 70% of the natural gas into heat, with the remaining 30% being lost through exhaust. In other words, the higher the AFUE, the more efficient the system is. Starting in the 1990s, new regulations led to a new efficiency floor for furnaces: 78% AFUE. In the decades since, however, furnaces have continued to become more efficient, climbing the AFUE scale. Some of today’s furnaces scrape the very top of the scale, topping out at 97% or 98% AFUE. These high-efficiency systems waste very little energy. Many homeowners mistakenly think that electric furnaces are cheaper to operate than gas furnaces. After all, electric furnaces have 100% AFUE—there’s no wasted energy at all! However, just because electric systems are technically more efficient doesn’t mean you’ll see lower heating costs. Electricity is far more expensive than natural gas. Oil and propane are even pricier than electricity. When looking at AFUE, make sure you take the cost of the fuel source into account. If you are looking for an AC/Heating professional in Northwest Arkansas, or Southwest Missouri, give us a call today at (479) 235-6712.