How to Tell If You Have a High-Efficiency Furnace

Your home’s heating system uses a significant amount of energy each year. Ensuring that your furnace is working as efficiently as possible can help to keep your energy bills in check during the fall and winter seasons. How can you tell if the furnace in your house is a high-efficiency product? What’s the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency Number? The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) number tells you how much energy a furnace is able to turn into heat. For example, if a heater is able to turn 100 units of gas into 70 units of heat, it would have an AFUE rating of 70%. All furnaces manufactured and sold in the United States must have a minimum efficiency score of 81%. You can usually find the energy efficiency rating for your unit on the item itself or in the owner manual that comes with it. Does It Have an ENERGY STAR Label? Any product that meets the Department of Energy (DOE) efficiency requirements will be labeled as such. To qualify as an ENERGY STAR product, it would need to have an AFUE rating of at least 90%. Make Sure to Stick to a Regular Maintenance Schedule Clogged air filters, broken...

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