The cost to heat and cool your home adds up to more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s imperative to search for a system that provides quality comfort in your Savage home while still ensuring energy efficient. Greater energy efficiency means your system is working well while using less energy. Whether you are looking into a replacement air conditioner or furnace or thinking to upgrade your current equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to be aware of that will help you during the procedure. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings indicate?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating considers the effectiveness of your unit at different temperatures, in other words, seasonally in Savage. A greater SEER rating signifies a greater energy efficiency, which will translate into lower utility bills. The Department of Energy expects a minimum 13 SEER-rating for cooler 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 improvement.
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 produced for every dollar of fuel used. You can think of it as the MPG on your car. The higher the AFUE-rating, the smaller your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that denotes that 80% of the heat generated is used to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is lost through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and works to measure the heating productivity of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the winter season as it only keeps track of your unit’s heating efficiency. Like the others, the greater the number, the extra energy efficient the heat pump.
Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning in Savage offers equipment with the best energy efficiency ratings. If you are hesitant what the energy ratings are of the heating and cooling in your home we would be glad to help you better understand to keep your home comfy, while saving money. Give us a call at 952-373-0377 to set up an appointment with us.