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 improve your furnace efficiency and reduce energy bills this season.
Many Denver homeowners buy a furnace but forget to have routine checkups, which is why they often empty their wallets while 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
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 contact the company or a professional like JDs Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning for ratings. Manufacturers that develop furnaces with AFUE ratings of 90% or higher receive verification from Energy Star. So, if your furnace has an Energy Star sticker, rest assured it’s a highly efficient furnace.
However, an AFUE rating alone doesn’t mean much if your furnace is clogged, dirty, and hasn’t been inspected in years.
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 pays.
For example, in Denver, the average annual bill is typically between $ 1,300 and $ 1,600. 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. Engaging professionals for a Denver Furnace Annual Inspection is a great way to maximize efficiency.
What is The Age of Your Furnace?
This one ties into your furnace’s AFUE rating. 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.
Like other electrical equipment, furnaces have a limited life expectancy of 15 to 20 years.
This means that furnaces older than 10 years with 98% efficiency may drop to 75% or lower. While a routine furnace inspection is important for keeping your furnace operating at optimal efficiency, it cannot increase its overall life expectancy. If your Denver furnace is over 15 years old, it’s time to replace it. Here is a complete guide to replacing your furnace in Denver.
The heating and cooling system in your Denver home is a complex network of pipes, vents, and ducts that keeps your home comfortable. Anything can go wrong at any time. That is why it’s important to have the furnace inspected regularly. 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 inspections of your furnace are two key elements to ensure you keep getting the optimum output. We at JDs Plumbing Heating & AC have NAT-Certified technicians ready to help you at every step of the way.
