More than half of your utility bills in Oxford consist of cost to heat and cool your home. To save as much money as you can, you should find a system that can provide home comfort as efficiently as possible. The better your system’s energy efficiency, the more your system is doing while using less energy. If you’re preparing to upgrade or replace your HVAC equipment, you should understand a few terms and ratings to be fully informed and get the best energy efficiency possible.
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER, rating measures the cooling efficiency of your equipment at various temperatures. Higher SEER ratings indicate better energy efficiency, and therefore, lower utility bills. For chillier northern states, The Department of Energy requires a minimum 13 SEER rating. Warmer, southern states must a minimum SEER rating of 14. If your unit has a poor SEER-rating, an upgrade could bring you a beneficial spike in energy savings.
AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric)
Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratio shows the percentage of heat produced for every dollar of fuel used—kind of like the miles per gallon you get from your car. Higher AFUE ratings usually mean lower energy costs. So, an AFUE rating of 80 means that 80% of the heat generated by your furnace is heating your home, and 20% of the heat is escaping through venting.
The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) measures the heating efficiency of heat pumps. It is fundamentally the SEER rating for winter given that it measures only heating efficiency. Like the other ratings, higher numbers indicate better energy efficiency.
At Franklin's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc, you’ll find equipment with top energy efficiency ratings. We can help you find out the energy efficiency of your existing equipment and help you find ways to improve its efficiency and save money—whether with continued maintenance or with up-to-date, more efficient equipment. Just call us at 662-281-1231 to schedule an appointment with us.