The cost to heat and cool your home makes up more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s so important to find a system that provides quality comfort in your Moline home while still being energy efficient. Higher energy efficiency means your system is operating well while using less energy. Whether you are thinking about a replacement air conditioner or furnace or considering to upgrade your current equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to look out for that will help you during the process. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings represent?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating considers the competence of your unit at different temperatures, or rather, seasonally in Moline. A larger SEER rating indicates a higher energy efficiency, which will translate into less expensive utility bills. The Department of Energy expects a minimum 13 SEER-rating for cooler states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for warmer, southern states. If your home has an aged unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see drastic energy savings after an upgrade.
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 used. You can look at it as the MPG on your car. The greater the AFUE-rating, the less your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that denotes 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 efficiency of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the colder months as it only keeps track of your unit’s heating productivity. Similarly, the larger the number, the more energy efficient the heat pump.
J.L. Brady Company LLC in Moline presents equipment with the best energy efficiency ratings. If you are hesitant what the energy ratings are of the system in your home we would be happy to help you become better informed to keep your home comfortable, while saving money. Give us a call at 309-517-7511 to schedule an appointment with us.