One of the first issues you’ll want to consider when shopping for an efficient new furnace is just how efficient it should be. The choices range from standard-efficiency furnaces to high-efficiency condensing units. Determining the best efficiency for your home and our warm Southwest Arizona climate should be your top priority when you install a new furnace.
How Efficient Do Furnaces Get?
Compared to the old days when furnaces barely converted half of their fuel into heat for your home, you can’t avoid getting an efficient furnace today. The minimum available on the market features an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiencies (AFUE) of 78 percent, meaning more than three quarters of the fuel gets turned into usable heat. High-efficiency furnaces start at AFUE 90 percent, and rise to as high as 98 percent.
The catch is that the more efficient the furnace, the more it will cost to purchase and install. This means that in order for a more efficient option to make sense for your home, it has to save you enough energy during its lifetime, by wasting less fuel, to make it worth the extra money upfront.
How Much Does an Efficient Furnace Matter?
The key is to determine is how much a more efficient furnace will save you. To do so, consider the following factors:
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Utility costs: If the local utility costs for the fuel you will be using are high, and you expect them to stay that way, a more efficient system means you will waste less fuel and save more. On the other hand, if fuel costs are low (and natural gas prices are relatively low right now due to ramped-up domestic drilling), it will take much longer for energy savings to provide a decent payback.
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Your typical use: If you like your home extra toasty in the winter and find yourself running your heat often, a more efficient unit will save you money more quickly.
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Your area’s climate: In Southwest Arizona, this is likely the most important factor arguing against paying top dollar for a high-efficiency condensing furnace. Our winters simply don’t require heavy furnace use, so it will take years longer for the savings on operating costs to earn payback on the higher-cost furnace.
The best way to get concrete operating cost estimates is to consult an HVAC professional. He/she will provide you with accurate estimates for multiple models to find the ideal fit for your home.
Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company can help you with any of your furnace needs in the Yuma area. Please contact us today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about efficient furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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