The cost to heat and cool your home adds up to more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s so important to look for a system that delivers quality comfort in your Delray Beach home while still ensuring energy efficient. Higher energy efficiency means your system is operating well while using less energy. Whether you are considering 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 reflects the effectiveness of your unit at different temperatures, in other words, seasonally in Delray Beach. A higher SEER rating signifies a larger energy efficiency, which will translate into smaller utility bills. The Department of Energy requires a minimum 13 SEER-rating for cooler states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for hotter, 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 keeps track of the percentage of heat created for every dollar of fuel expended. You can look at it as the MPG on your car. The greater the AFUE-rating, the smaller your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that signifies that 80% of the heat produced is consumed to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is wasted through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and operates to measure the heating effectiveness of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for winter as it only determines your unit’s heating productivity. Again, the higher the number, the more energy efficient the heat pump.
Kilbourne Heating & AC in Delray Beach presents equipment with the highest energy efficiency ratings. If you are uncertain what the energy ratings are of the equipment in your home we would be glad to help you become better informed to keep your home comfy, while saving money. Give us a call at 561-287-7071 to arrange for an appointment with us.