What is a good AFUE rating for furnaces?

If your home has a furnace, you’ve certainly noticed the bright yellow Energy Guide sticker that purports to tell you how much energy/fuel your appliance uses. But what does the data on that sticker even mean? What is an AFUE rating? How is it measured? And what exactly is a good and efficient AFUE rating?

In this article, we’ll answer all your furnace efficiency questions (and if we don’t, you can call us)!

What is an AFUE rating?

First off, what even IS an AFUE rating? AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, and it measures how efficiently your furnace can convert gas or fuel into heat for your home. AFUE ratings can range from 0% (not efficient at all) to 100% (fully efficient, meaning every bit of energy is converted into heat perfectly). Consequently, a furnace with a 98 AFUE rating will typically save you money over a furnace that clocks an 80 AFUE rating. 

An AFUE rating of 80 is the minimum, and furnaces generally cap out at around 98.5% efficiency, meaning SOME energy will always be lost in the combustion process. 

What AFUE rating is best for me?

With the definitions out of the way, what AFUE rating should you be looking for? Well, in Wendell, North Carolina, you might not need a high-efficiency furnace. Such appliances usually use special technology to condense water vapor produced during combustion and convert it into heat, allowing them to run at 94 to 98.5 AFUE. Such furnaces cost more money upfront, but they can save you money long-term in oil, natural gas, or whatever other fuel you’re burning for heat. But Wendell does still have some cold winter days, so a high-efficiency furnace can still make sense in some cases. 

On the other hand, a mid-efficiency furnace, which will usually run at around 90-93 AFUE can also make sense—investing the extra money upfront for a high-efficiency can be a big opportunity cost that a mid-efficiency unit can help you avoid. You’ll pay more for fuel every year, but depending on your house and your financial situation, the trade-off could be worth it!

Call us to help you choose the best furnace for you

Chances are, you’re not exactly sure what furnace will work best for you and your home. If you’re thinking about a new furnace, give us a call so we can get you affordable quotes and help you understand the options and pricing!