Heating and Air Conditioning Systems Efficiency Ratings Explained…
In the simplest terms the higher efficiency of your heating or air conditioning equipment, the lower your long-term energy costs.
Air Conditioners
For air conditioning the higher the “SEER” number the greater the efficiency and of course the greater your energy savings. At this time United States regulatory agencies require all new air conditioning products to have minimum of a 13 SEER rating. You will find that many equipment manufacturers carry lines of air conditioners with SEER ratings from 13 up to as high as 21.
Cost Savings: If you have an older air conditioner you could be save up to 50% off your air conditioning bills by replacing it with a newer high efficiency 18 SEER model.
Gas Furnaces
Gas and Oil furnaces are rated based on the “AFUE” or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, which is the standard measurement of efficiency for gas and oil-fired furnaces.
Given in a percent of efficiency, this number tells you exactly how much of your fuel is actually used to heat your home and how much fuel is wasted up the flue. The higher the AFUE rating percentage the greater the efficiency.
Cost Savings: If you have a 10 year or older furnace which generally has an AFUE of approximately 60% to 75%, you could save up to 40% on your heating bills by replacing it with a new high efficiency 95% plus furnace.
Heat Pumps
Heat Pumps are rated based on another system all together, the HSPF or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor is the efficiency rating measurement utilized to gauge the efficiency of any heat pumps.
Again, the higher the number, the the better the efficiency and higher your cost-savings. Today’s models are required to have a minimum rating of 6.8 HSPF and the best can goes as high as 11 HSPF.
Cost Savings: While higher efficiency heat pumps and air conditioners usually means a higher upfront cost they also translate into much lower utility bills.
One additional factor that affects the efficiency of your air conditioning or heat pump system is your indoor coil. If your condensing unit is not matched with the proper indoor coil, it may not give you the stated SEER and/or HSPF ratings and could even develop performance problems.