You need a new furnace. Do you know what AFUE rating you want? Do you even know what that means? Don't worry, we can translate HVAC into English.

What Is AFUE?

AFUE stands for annual fuel utilization efficiency. Which is a fancy way of just saying fuel efficiency for furnaces. The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficiently the furnace burns. The more efficiently it burns, the less money you gotta shell out to stay warm. And most people agree that the less they have to pay to the utility company, the happier they are. So, you can save a lot of money buying a low AFUE furnace. Or you can pay a little more, get a unit with a high AFUE rating, and save for years to come.

What Is A Good AFUE Rating?

The lowest efficiency rating you will find on modern furnaces and boilers is an 80 AFUE. This is the current minimum standard. The highest you will find is around 97 AFUE. Some manufacturers do claim they can get an AFUE rating as high as 98.

Why Do AFUE Ratings Not Reach 100?

The maximum AFUE rating possible would be 100 (i.e. - 100%). Nobody has yet figured out how to burn any fuel 100% efficiently without any waste. Somebody might get there someday, but probably not anytime in the near future.

Should You Try To Get a 97% AFUE Furnace?

Depends on how much you like money. If you want to save as much of your dollar as possible, an AFUE rating higher than 95% is a good way to do it. Of course, they are more expensive upfront. However, if you live in a climate with cold winters and use a lot of heating, that extra efficiency boost can really save you a bundle year over year.

Know All You Need to Know?

Do you have more questions or comments about the AFUE rating on the furnace you have or are interested in getting? Let us know here, on Twitter, or over on Facebook!