You need to consider efficiency ratings when selecting a new furnace or heat pump. The higher the efficiency level, the more energy savings you’ll see. You want a system that’s efficient enough for North Texas weather, without paying too much.
Furnace Efficiency
The standard rating for furnace efficiency is the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. This rating comes as a percentage. The closer the number is to 100 percent, the better. Modern furnaces run anywhere from 78 percent to 97 percent efficient. The more efficient the unit, the higher the purchase cost will likely be. However, much of that cost will come back in the form of lower energy bills.
Since the McKinney area’s climate is usually mild during the winter, you should look for a furnace efficiency of 80 to 85 percent.
Heat Pump Efficiency
Evaluating heat pump efficiency is a bit different from a furnace, because a heat pump both cools and heats. You need to look at two ratings for heat pumps.
- Seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER – This cooling efficiency ratio indicates how many BTUs of heat the system can remove from the home’s interior during a single annual cooling season. The most efficient units have a SEER between 14 and 18.
- Heating season performance factor, or HSPF – This heating efficiency rating measures the total space heating the system can provide in a single annual heating season. The most efficient units have a HSPF between 8 and 10.
Given that Texas summers are usually harsher than the winters, give more attention to a unit’s SEER rating, which will give you the best heat pump efficiency during the summers.
An HVAC contractor can give you an annual estimated operating cost for any model furnace or heat pump. This calculation factors in the unit’s efficiency, local utility rates and your home’s configuration.
For further information on furnace and heat pump efficiency, contact the pros at Bill Joplin’s Air Conditioning & Heating. We proudly serve McKinney, Frisco and Allen, along with surrounding communities.
