The cost to heat and cool your home adds up to more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s so important to search for a system that provides quality comfort in your West Columbia home while still remaining energy efficient. Greater energy efficiency means your system is doing more while using less energy. Whether you are considering a replacement air conditioner or furnace or looking to upgrade your present equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to look out for that will help you during the procedure. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings mean?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating takes into consideration the competence of your unit at different temperatures, or rather, seasonally in West Columbia. A greater SEER rating indicates a greater energy efficiency, which will translate into less expensive utility bills. The Department of Energy expects a minimum 13 SEER-rating for chillier states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for warmer, southern states. If your home has an mature unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see radical energy savings after an modern system.
AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric)
AFUE stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio and it measures the percentage of heat generated for every dollar of fuel consumed. You can consider it as the MPG on your car. The higher the AFUE-rating, the less your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that means that 80% of the heat created is used to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is lost through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and operates to determine the heating efficiency of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for winter as it only keeps track of your unit’s heating productivity. Similarly, the larger the number, the more energy efficient the heat pump.
Tri City Fuel & Heating Co., Inc. in West Columbia presents equipment with the highest energy efficiency ratings. If you are uncertain what the energy ratings are of the system in your home we would be more than willing to help you become better informed to keep your home comfy, while saving money. Give us a call at 803-265-4208 to arrange for an appointment with us.