The cost to heat and cool your home totals more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s crucial to look for a system that provides quality comfort in your Houston home while still remaining energy efficient. Better energy efficiency means your system is doing more while using less energy. Whether you are looking into a replacement air conditioner or furnace or looking to upgrade your present equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to know that will help you during the process. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings represent?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating considers the effectiveness of your unit at different temperatures, or rather, seasonally in Houston. A higher SEER rating indicates a larger energy efficiency, which will convert into smaller utility bills. The Department of Energy demands a minimum 13 SEER-rating for chillier states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for warmer, southern states. If your home has an older unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see extreme 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 finds the percentage of heat created for every dollar of fuel used. You can look at it as the MPG on your car. The greater the AFUE-rating, the smaller your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that signifies that 80% of the heat created is used to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is misplaced through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and works to measure the heating efficiency of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for winter as it only keeps track of your unit’s heating efficiency. Similarly, the larger the number, the extra energy efficient the heat pump.
Marcos AC & Heating in Houston offers equipment with the best energy efficiency ratings. If you are hesitant what the energy ratings are of the heating and cooling in your home we would be more than willing to help you become better informed to keep your home comfortable, while saving money. Give us a call at 713-469-3357 to schedule an appointment with us.