For those of you who live in the Yuma area, you know that the summers can get pretty extreme and the winters can, at times, have their low points. These conditions put your heating and cooling equipment to the test. If you have decided that your home needs a new heating/cooling unit it is very important before you select a system that you know the key terms that will make selecting the best-available product much easier. If you take the time to familiarize yourself with the heating and cooling terms listed below, you will help yourself to make the right choice and possibly save money in the long run.
Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE): AFUE lets you know how much energy your furnace is converting into heat. The most efficient furnaces have a higher AFUE. The U. S. Department of Energy requires that all furnaces have at least a AFUE of 78 percent. Typically, an efficient furnace will have an AFUE of a minimum of at least 80 percent, while an extremely energy-efficient furnace will have an AFUE of 90 percent or more. When choosing the correct furnace, the AFUE will dictate how much money you can pocket through energy savings.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER): SEER is a measure of an air conditioning unit’s cooling efficiency. A higher SEER produces the same amount of cooling as a lower SEER unit, but a higher SEER system uses less power to do that same amount of work. The U.S. Department of Energy requires that any residential systems made after 2005 have a SEER rating of at least 13. Always choose an air conditioning unit with a higher SEER so you can save money by reducing your monthly utility bills.
Having clear knowledge of these heating and cooling terms will enable you to be well prepared to make the right decision when the time comes to install a new and more efficient Cooling and Heating system. For further information on things you can do to reduce the cost of your monthly utility bills, please contact the professionals at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric. They are well trained and more than willing to assist you in all of your home comfort needs.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Hansberger Refrigeration & Electric Co services the Yuma area in Arizona. To get started, check out our website.
