Contacting an HVAC company in Suwanee, GA, on a regular basis is the surest way to make sure your system is running at peak efficiency. However, there are times in between regular maintenance calls when you might think your HVAC is using more energy than it should. Here are three ways to assess the energy efficiency of your heater.
Your Energy Bill
Comparing your energy bill from the same time last year is the best way to find out if there’s a change in the efficiency of your heater. You might need to take into account differences in the weather pattern, but typically speaking, your energy usage should remain about the same. Your HVAC system typically uses more energy than anything else that might be included in the bill, so it’s a good indicator of what your HVAC is doing.
Signs of Age
If your heater hasn’t been properly maintained, it could lose up to five percent of its efficiency for every year that it’s been left without maintenance. Even if you have maintained it well, heaters typically last between 15 and 20 years. After 10 years of age, they may show a decline. Combine that with advances in technology, and you have a good reason to invest in a new system.
The AFUE Rating
The annual fuel utilization efficiency rating applies to newer and older furnaces. If you’re in the market for a new heater, the higher the AFUE rating the better. The good news is that the rating is fairly straight forward. A 93 percent rating means that 93 percent of the energy the heater is using become heat. Many older heaters have lower than 60 percent ratings.
Contact an expert in HVAC heating in Suwanee, GA, and get your heater’s efficiency checked out.