Modern furnaces have many features and options, but efficiency is often the top-line selling point. The AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating for combustion furnaces will give you the best idea of how efficiently your furnace burns fuel. All modern furnaces must have a minimum AFUE rating of 80%, with high-efficiency furnaces typically being much higher.

If you're replacing your furnace, deciding between standard and high-efficiency will be one of your first and most important choices. This decision can have many long-term impacts on your furnace's operating costs and reliability, but should you always spend the extra money for a more efficient option?

Understanding How High-Efficiency Furnaces Benefit Your Home

Your furnace's AFUE rating is surprisingly easy to understand. This percentage value tells you how much fuel your furnace can convert into usable heat for your home. Since combustion furnaces can't exhaust combustion byproducts directly into your home's air, they need to extract heat from the exhaust flue. The AFUE tells you the percentage of heat extracted.

This simplicity makes understanding the benefits of a higher-efficiency option easy to understand. A standard 80% AFUE furnace will convert 80% of its fuel to heat, meaning that 20% of the fuel you purchase escapes with the exhaust stream. On the other hand, a much more efficient furnace will waste far less money.

For example, a 95% AFUE furnace will save about 16% per year compared to an 80% AFUE standard efficiency model. Your savings will depend on the fuel you use and the fuel cost in your area, but these savings can be significant and may amount to hundreds of dollars or more. Using an AFUE calculator can help you see how long it will take for these savings to pay off the higher cost of a more efficient furnace.

Deciding Between Standard and High-Efficiency Models

Of course, the downside to purchasing a higher-efficiency furnace is that you'll pay more for the unit. You may also need to pay more for installation if upgrading from a standard system since higher-efficiency models require PVC exhaust flues. Some models may also require a separate intake exhaust pipe, which can also increase your installation costs.

If you can't afford these extra costs, a standard-efficiency furnace can still provide excellent performance and will often be much more efficient than older models. As a result, you'll still save money with your new furnace, although the savings may be slightly less drastic. Both high-efficiency and standard-efficiency models should be reliable and relatively long-lasting.

However, if you can afford the higher cost of a high-efficiency furnace, these upgraded models are often worth the price. In addition to offering substantial utility savings, many high-efficiency models include features such as modulating burners that can increase comfort and heating consistency.

For more information about furnace replacements, reach out to a local service.