How Can You Tell If Your Home’s Heater Is Energy Efficient?

Being able to heat your Yuma home efficiently this winter can help you lower your energy bills. The type of heating system you have affects how much you’re able to save. How do you know if your heating system is energy efficient? Keep the following in mind to determine your heater’s energy efficiency.

The Age of Your Heating System

Knowing how old your heating system is can help you determine how much energy efficiency it offers. Older heaters won’t provide as much efficiency as newer models. Heating systems overall can last between 15 and 20 years. If your heater is near this age, it’s unlikely to be energy efficient. Replacing it with a newer model can help you heat your home more efficiently. Keep in mind that heating systems typically lose a bit of efficiency each year, but routine maintenance can help them stay energy efficient longer.

AFUE Rating

The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating indicates how well your heating system is able to efficiently turn fuel into energy. Heating systems that offer the most energy efficiency have AFUE ratings of 90% or more. Ratings of 80% or more also provide considerable energy efficiency. Check your heating system’s user manual or the system itself for the AFUE rating.

Energy Bills

Your energy bills should fluctuate during the year or at certain times, such as when it’s unusually cold out. However, if your energy bills are going up without any explanation, this can indicate that your heater isn’t energy efficient. Replacing the HVAC filter in your heating system might help improve its efficiency, but you might need a new heater if your bills continue to be higher than usual.

If you need to buy a more energy-efficient heater for your Yuma home this winter, please contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. We can help you select a new heating system or perform maintenance to keep your current heater as energy efficient as possible.