The Annual Fuel Efficiency Rating, or AFUE, is one of the top factors you should consider as you shop for a new furnace. Heating systems come in a wide range of efficiency percentages, and your choice will have a significant impact on how your system works and how large your heating bills are. Most systems are assigned an efficiency rating between 80 to 95% efficiency, but what does this mean, exactly? Here’s a closer look.

How to Understand Furnace Efficiency Ratings

80% Efficiency

The Department of Energy requires furnaces to be at least 80% efficient, which is considered the standard efficiency. If a unit has this rating, it means that 20% of the energy is lost and 80% actually becomes heat. If you have a central heating system, even more of that energy is likely lost through the ducts.  

Most 80% furnaces use open combustion to generate heat, meaning they pull in air from the surrounding area. Therefore, they need to be installed in a vented space. It may be most cost-effective to replace an 80% model with another of the same efficiency since you won’t need to connect a venting system.

90+% Efficiency

High-efficiency furnaces are classified as those that suffer no more than 10% energy loss. These systems use a process called sealed combustion, where the unit sucks in the air from the outdoors. They usually do this through a dedicated pipe from the attic or crawlspace. These systems are ideally installed in sealed, unvented areas since they vent their produced gases outdoors. This prevents the combustion gas from becoming a safety concern.

The professionals at A & B Heating & Air Conditioning can help you select the right furnace for your space, budget, and needs. These heating and cooling experts are based in Burlington, KY, and are fully licensed for service throughout the greater Cincinnati area, northern Kentucky, and southeast Indiana. They’re members of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America® and approved by the Better Business Bureau®​​​​​​​ to best serve you. Learn more about their services on their website and call (859) 525-0100 for an appointment.