Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency Ratings

The AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating system is in place to assist homeowners in identifying how well their furnace converts the fuel they consume into heat. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires furnace manufacturers to include this rating on their products. While the AFUE rating might sound too technical to understand, it is really quite simple.

The AFUE rating system can be broken down as follows:

• Poor rating offering low efficiency: 77% and below
• Good rating and mid-range efficiency: 78% to 90%
• Excellent rating and high efficiency: 91% and up

The Department of Energy provides minimum AFUE requirements for all newly manufactured furnaces. This listing is broken down according to whether or not the furnace is weatherized (in-home versus in-garage). It is also divided into categories according to the type of fuel that is used to power the furnace, such as oil, gas, or electricity.

Furnace Replacement in Salem

Keeping AFUE ratings in mind, you then have to wonder whether or not your existing furnace is performing efficiently. Fortunately, you can call us to assess your furnace’s performance and provide you with the Salem heating installation that locals depend on. A thorough maintenance and service checkup will reveal just how well your equipment has been performing.

Alternatively, you can consider a few other factors that will indicate that it is time - probably past time, even - when you should call our team to install a new furnace. These factors include:

• The age of your unit, particularly if it is more than 10 years old
• How frequently you have had your unit serviced with a system checkup
• Poor performance
• Uneven air flow and heating
• The existence of unusual noises and/or odors
• Extremely high energy bills
• Numerous calls to have your unit serviced or repaired

Our heating technicians are always ready to assist you with answers to any questions that you might have. We can make suggestions on which Carrier furnace might make a good addition to your home or business after getting to know you, your needs, and your property. Our company carries numerous units, including gas and oil models offering high efficiency. To learn more, contact us online today for furnace service in Salem, Oregon, and the surrounding areas!

Which Furnace Should I Buy?

The most common fuel types for furnaces include oil and gas. In general, a gas furnace is going to deliver better performance (due to above average AFUE ratings). As a result, a gas furnace is going to be less expensive to operate. Gas furnaces generally require less maintenance and operate more quietly than oil units.

In order to ensure that your furnace keeps your home comfortably heated without creating excessive monthly expenditures, you should determine what size furnace you need. If you need assistance or simply want to validate your decision, the team at Loren’s Heating & Air can assist you. 

In general, you should take the following factors into consideration:

• The number of floors in your home
• The square footage of your home
• The amount of insulation that is currently in place
• Your current heating needs

Carrier Furnaces

Carrier dates back to the early 1900s, when the founder of the company created the first air conditioning unit. Since then, the company has developed a global presence selling a wide variety of residential, commercial, and industrial furnaces in addition to air conditioning units and heat pumps. Their Infinity Series, Comfort Series, and Performance Series deliver AFUE ratings of 95% or more, providing the high efficiency that affordably heats homes.

Why Is Furnace Maintenance Important?

Furnace maintenance is very important when it comes to prolonging the life of your heating system. Maintenance includes having your system cleaned and checked for any possible parts that could use replacement or be causing your system to not run properly. We offer heating maintenance plans for our Salem customers to provide our expert services twice annually: once in the fall time and once in the springtime. We recommend having your furnace maintenance before you turn your unit on for the season to prevent any surprises when the cold weather hits. This allows us to check the unit to make sure everything will be functioning properly, all winter long. If you call us for a maintenance agreement, we will be more than happy to get you added to the schedule right away.