The arrival of autumn means increased heating use, and if your old heater was on its last legs, then now is the perfect time to install a new system. Doing so in the fall instead of the winter gives you plenty of time to plan for the operation, and work with your service technician to determine the exact parameters your new heater should feature.
Among the first and most important aspects you should consider is the overall efficiency of the new heater. Making sure it suits your home’s needs may be trickier than you think, but with the help of a trained technician and the proper preparations, you can find the efficiency levels you need.
AFUE
The key measurement to factor into your considerations is AFUE, which stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. It’s simply a percentage, measuring how much of the heater’s consumed fuel goes into heating the home. The rest is spent on inefficiency and other factors. The higher the rating, the more effectively the heater uses its energy, and the lower the monthly cost will be when compared to identical usage for heaters with a lower efficiency. AFUE ratings will also determine how much wear and tear your new system can withstand. The higher the rating, the less strain various components will be under, and the longer they will go before breaking down or otherwise requiring repair.
While the heater’s power output comes first – an efficient heater won’t mean much if it’s underpowered and can’t warm the home – the AFUE rating should be at the top of your mind when you’re considering your options. Your technician should be able to point out the most efficient heater options in your size and price range.
For solid advice and reliable service when installing a new heater in your Reading, MA home, call the pros at Cooling Unlimited, Inc. today!
