The cost to heat and cool your home totals more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s so important to look for a system that delivers superior comfort in your Mechanicsburg home while still remaining energy efficient. Higher energy efficiency means your system is doing more while using less energy. Whether you are considering a replacement air conditioner or furnace or thinking to upgrade your existing equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to look out for that will help you during the procedure. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings mean?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating reflects the efficiency of your unit at different temperatures, in other words, seasonally in Mechanicsburg. A higher SEER rating denotes a greater energy efficiency, which will convert into lower utility bills. The Department of Energy requires a minimum 13 SEER-rating for chillier states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for humid, southern states. If your home has an mature 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 produced for every dollar of fuel used. You can look at it as the MPG on your car. The higher the AFUE-rating, the smaller your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that means that 80% of the heat generated 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 productivity of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for winter as it only determines your unit’s heating efficiency. Similarly, the larger the number, the extra energy efficient the heat pump.
H & H Service Company in Mechanicsburg presents equipment with the greatest energy efficiency ratings. If you are unsure what the energy ratings are of the system in your home we would be happy to help you better understand to keep your home content, while saving money. Give us a call at 717-220-4502 to schedule an appointment with us.