It is important that all homeowners understand the basics about the different efficiency ratings that are set by the HVAC industry. The more efficient a product is, the lower your energy costs are going to be over the long term. Of course, as you are shopping around for new systems, your Toronto heating and cooling contractors or dealer will be able to help you pick out the best possible cooling and heating products to suit your needs.
The measure of efficiency is known as Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, otherwise known as SEER. This is how the cooling process for heat pumps and air conditioners is rated. The bigger the SEER number, the more efficiency a product will have and the higher your energy savings will be overall. Canadian regulatory standards call for any new products today to have a SEER rating that is at least 13.0 or higher. Carrier has a full line of air conditioning systems that have a SEER rating of 13.0 up to 21.
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, otherwise known as AFUE, is the industry standard measurement for efficiency in all oil fired or gas furnaces. This is a measurement that will tell you just how much of your fuel is used to heat your home along with what is actually wasted. The higher your AFUE rating is, the better your efficiency is. Carrier has a great line of furnaces that all have high AFUE ratings that range from 78% up to 96%.
When you have an older furnace that has a lower AFUE rating, you could find that there will be around a 40% savings on all of your heating bills once you replace it with a newer and more efficient model. As a matter of fact, the cost that it takes to replace your older furnace will pay for itself through your lowered utility bills.
Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, or HSPF, is a form of measurement that is used to determine the efficiency during the heating mode for heat pumps. The larger the number, the greater the efficiency as well as the cost savings. All models today need to have at least a 6.8 HSPF and Carrier has a great selection of heat pumps that have 6.8 to 9.5 HSPF ratings.
When you go with higher efficiency heat pumps and air conditioning, it sometimes mean higher equipment costs, yet you will be able to save on your utility bills. When you live in a climate that is humid and/or warm, you will see a much higher cost for your high efficiency heat pump or air conditioner that will be paid back with lower bills over just a few years. When you are looking for air conditioning, simply ask your HVAC specialist with Carrier what you need and they will be able to help you every step of the way.
The bottom line is that you always want to be able to match your system to get the best efficiency possible. Laird and Son Heating and Cooling has an excellent diagnostics team trained and certified. We are Toronto’s HVAC Company of choice by property owners with older homes, and new.
(Source: carrier.ca)