Just how much can you save with a high-efficiency furnace?
Are you trying to figure out the best way to cut back on heating expenses during the winter? Although there are little things you can do (turning the thermostat down, investing in weather stripping, closing blinds, etc.) the change that is going to make the biggest impact is upgrading from an old furnace to a new high-efficiency model.
Older models, from 10 or so years ago, did not have to meet the same efficiency requirements that systems manufactured today have to meet. So, not only will the efficiency of your old system have decreased (through normal use), it may have started off less efficient than even standard-efficiency systems today. That’s why you can save money with even a standard-efficiency system.
High-efficiency furnaces can dramatically reduce utility bills because heating and cooling costs comprise most of your utility expenses (nearly 50% according to the Department of Energy). Say you currently have a furnace operating at 70% AFUE and you upgrade to a 95% AFUE model. That’s an increase in efficiency of approximately 26%. Say your heating bill runs approximately $100 a month on average currently; that’s a savings of around $26 a month or $312 a year.
Plus, there are additional home comfort systems that can help you save even more money. Like pairing your high-efficiency gas furnace with a digital programmable thermostat or a zoning system.
Have you talked to your local heating and air dealer about your high-efficiency furnace options? If you have a high-efficiency furnace, have you seen savings on your heating bills?