What Are Three Ways You Can Tell if Your Heater Is Energy Efficient?

Is your heater energy efficient? With winter right around the corner, the last thing anyone needs is to check the mail only to find a surprisingly high energy bill—but if you haven’t been keeping up on your heater maintenance in New Orleans, LA, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise. Rather than wait for your first heating bill to arrive, there are three ways you can tell if your heater is already running efficiently:

• How old is your heater? One of the biggest factors in efficiency is how old your heater is. Typically, they last about 15 to 20 years, as long as you perform annual maintenance. However, if you don’t schedule annual maintenance and your heater is on the older side, it will be far less efficient. Eventually, components wear down and break, and your heater will have to work overtime to heat the house. That all adds up to an expensive energy bill when the temperatures drop. As technology advances, consider upgrading your HVAC unit. Newer energy-efficient technology can help cut down on your bill, making the investment pay off over the long run.
• How do your energy bills compare? If you’ve had the same HVAC unit for a few years, you can always compare your bills from one year to the next. If, for example, your bill was much lower at the same time last year, it may be an issue with efficiency. Schedule a tune-up and maintenance appointment to see what can be done to solve the problem. Most tune-ups help heaters run up to 30 percent more efficiently.
• What’s your AFUE rating? Finally, you should know your heater’s AFUE rating—that is, its annual fuel utilization efficiency rating. The higher the number, the more efficient your heater is. This is usually found in your owner’s manual or inside the furnace cabinet. You can also search online to find out your AFUE rating by make and model. The minimum level is 78 percent for new equipment, but 90 percent or higher is ideal.

These three factors will help you determine whether your heater is working efficiently, or if it’s time to trade it in for a new model. Even if you find that you need to replace your HVAC unit, keep in mind that newer models are designed to be more efficient than ever, which will be reflected in your energy bill savings.

The importance of annual maintenance and heater repairs in New Orleans, LA can’t be overstated, either. When you fail to maintain your heater, it can put extreme stress on the furnace. This causes components to wear down at a higher rate, and if your heat exchanger or coils crack, it can allow carbon monoxide to leak into your home. If it’s been a while since your last maintenance appointment, call a local HVAC contractor before the cold weather comes to town.

For more information or to arrange an appointment for heater maintenance and repair in New Orleans, LA, call JMB A/C & Heating LLC today.

Categorised in: Heating Services