The cost to heat and cool your home totals more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s crucial to look for a system that delivers superior comfort in your Franklin Lakes home while still ensuring 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 considering to upgrade your existing equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to look out for that will help you during the search. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings represent?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating reflects the competence of your unit at different temperatures, meaning, seasonally in Franklin Lakes. A larger SEER rating denotes a greater energy efficiency, which will convert into lower utility bills. The Department of Energy demands a minimum 13 SEER-rating for colder 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 drastic energy savings after an upgrade.
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 created for every dollar of fuel expended. You can look at it as the MPG on your car. The larger the AFUE-rating, the less your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that signifies that 80% of the heat created is exhausted to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is lost through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and is used to keep track of the heating efficiency of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for winter as it only determines your unit’s heating efficiency. Again, the higher the number, the greater energy efficient the heat pump.
Total Comfort in Franklin Lakes offers equipment with the greatest energy efficiency ratings. If you are unsure what the energy ratings are of the system in your home we would be happy to help you better comprehend to keep your home comfy, while saving money. Give us a call at 201-268-5663 to set up an appointment with us.