The cost to heat and cool your home makes up more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s imperative to find a system that provides excellent comfort in your Lake Worth 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 looking to upgrade your current equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to know that will help you during the search. 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 takes into consideration the effectiveness of your unit at different temperatures, meaning, seasonally in Lake Worth. A larger SEER rating signifies a greater energy efficiency, which will translate into less expensive utility bills. The Department of Energy expects a minimum 13 SEER-rating for chillier states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for hotter, southern states. If your home has an aged unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see extreme 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 used. You can think of 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 created is used to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is lost through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and operates to determine the heating effectiveness of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the colder months as it only measures your unit’s heating efficiency. Again, the greater the number, the extra energy efficient the heat pump.
Smyth Air Conditioning Inc in Lake Worth offers equipment with the highest energy efficiency ratings. If you are hesitant what the energy ratings are of the heating and cooling in your home we would be happy to help you become better informed to keep your home comfy, while saving money. Give us a call at 561-533-6066 to arrange for an appointment with us.