Nothing beats the comfort level of enjoying a warm cup of coffee inside your home knowing that your furnace is working as it should and keeping you cozy. However, if you aren’t paying attention to your furnace closely, you could end up getting huge energy bills.
The furnace is a crucial part of your home. The following tips can help you to improve your furnace efficiency and cut down on energy bills this season.
Many Denver homeowners buy a furnace but forget to have routine checkups, which is why they often empty their wallets whilst paying energy bills. The best way to achieve maximum efficiency is to conduct routine furnace inspections in Denver, CO.
- The AFUE ratings – Fuel Efficiency Measurement
- Did you check your energy bills?
- What is the age of your furnace?
The AFUE Ratings – Fuel Efficiency Measurement
An energy-efficient furnace is measured in units of AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) which determines how efficiently your furnace turns fuel into energy. The higher the number, the better. In terms of efficiency, a 100% energy-efficient furnace results in zero wastings of fuel and yields the most output in terms of heating your home and office.
Older furnaces typically have a rating of between 55% to 80%, whereas newer models are rated at 90% or above. Although a 98% furnace will initially cost you a higher price, it is definitely worth it in terms of efficiency and energy bills.
In reality, the maximum AFUE any furnace has ever achieved is 98%, as no system is 100% efficient.
Anything over 90% AFUE is considered a highly efficient furnace. To determine the AFUE rating, check the outside of your furnace and you will see a sticker showing its ratings. If you are unable to find one, it is better to call the company or professionals like JDs Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning to help you out with ratings. Manufacturers that develop furnaces with 90% or above AFUE get verifications from Energy Star. So, if your furnace has an Energy Star sticker, rest assured it’s a highly efficient furnace.
However, an AFUE number alone doesn’t mean anything if your furnace is clogged, dirty, and hasn’t had an inspection in years.
What are The Different Types of HVAC Systems? Read Our Denver Buying Guide
Did you Check Your Energy Bills?
Another way to determine the efficiency of your Denver furnace is by monitoring your energy bills and comparing them to the average. Unlike mortgages, your bills are going to fluctuate based on the seasonal demand. However, if you see consistent spikes on a yearly basis, it means your furnace isn’t yielding as much efficiency as you’d expect it to.
While no Denver homeowner will have a consistent bill, there should not be a large variation between what you pay and what the entire state does.
For example, in Denver, the average annual bill is usually in the range of $1300 to $1600. If your bill is in this range, you are in a safe zone. If it isn’t, it is high time you replace your furnace. Calling in professionals for a Denver Furnace Annual Inspection is a great way to achieve maximum efficiency.
What is The Age of Your Furnace?
This one ties in with your furnace’s AFUE ratings. While you may have a furnace with a 90%+ AFUE rating, if it is over a decade old, you won’t get the most out of it. The concept is simple to understand.
Just like with any other electric equipment, furnaces have a limited life expectancy, which is between 15 and 20 years.
This means that furnaces older than 10 years with a 98% efficiency may decrease to 75% or even less. While routine furnace inspection is important to keep your furnace working at the optimum output, it cannot increase the overall life expectancy. If your Denver furnace is over 15 years old, it’s time to replace it. Here is a complete guide on how to replace your furnace in Denver.
The heating and cooling system in your Denver home is a complex network of pipes, vents, and ducts that does the magic. Anything can go wrong at any time. That is why it’s important to have the furnace routinely checked and inspected. We have developed a 22-point checklist for furnace tune-ups that can determine when is the ideal time for a checkup.
Denver Furnace Inspection is Important
Paying close attention to your bills and scheduling regular inspection of your furnace are two key elements to ensure you keep getting the most optimum output. We at JDs Plumbing Heating & AC have NAT-Certified technicians ready to help you at every step of the way.
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