What Is the Most Efficient Heating System?
No matter where you live, your home heating method should be as cost-effective as possible. Sky-high electric bills caused by an outdated, inefficient heating system leave you throwing away money every month. Electric blankets and heating pads can only do so much to keep you warm when the temperature drops.
Keeping your home comfortable shouldn’t hurt your wallet. When you need an HVAC contractor in Humble, Texas, you can rely on our experts at Crew Heating and Cooling.
Call us at 832-345-9932 to schedule an appointment with a trained HVAC contractor to help you choose the most efficient heating system for your home.
Factors Determining Heating System Efficiency
When you begin your search for an efficient heating system, the first thing to think about is the size of the space you need to heat. A large home needs a more powerful heating system than a small cottage. If you choose a heating system that isn’t powerful enough for your space, it will work overtime and cease to be cost-effective.
A great thing to check when shopping for efficient furnaces is the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. When considering the AFUE rating, the higher the percentage, the more efficient the unit will be.
Whether the unit runs on gas or electricity, the AFUE rating tells you how much energy the system is actually using to heat your home vs. how it’s wasting. For example, if a system has an AFUE rating of 80% (the current minimum, according to the Department of Energy), only 20% of that energy is going to waste.
Before 1992, fuel efficiency ratings did not exist. If your heating unit is old enough to have children, the cost of your heating bill is probably higher than is necessary.
Saving money isn’t the only factor when it comes to efficiency. A quality heating system will also reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air.
Yes, replacing an outdated heating system is costly. However, an efficient heating system is an investment that will last many years. A modern unit with a high AFUE rating can reduce your heating bill by up to 50%.
What to Look for When Shopping
In addition to the AFUE rating, something to consider is whether you heat your home with natural gas or electricity. Typically, natural gas is the less expensive option, but not all homes are fitted for natural gas.
So what is the most efficient heating system? When shopping for an efficient heating system, you have three main options:
1. Heat Pump
If your home is total-electric and has no access to natural gas, a heat pump is a great choice.
One of the biggest perks of a heat pump is that it also cools your home, making it ideal for year-round use. A heat pump pulls air from inside your home, heats it (or cools it, depending on the season), and sends it back into your home.
AFUE ratings do not apply to heat pumps. Instead, quality heat pumps feature an “Energy Star Certified” label.
2. Furnace
A furnace is a great choice if your home has access to natural gas, but electricity and oil-powered units are available as well.
While higher-efficiency furnaces are available to run on either gas or electricity, furnaces that use natural gas are less expensive than electric furnaces. Furnaces use a fan to provide your home with warm air.
3. Boiler
It may seem archaic, but a boiler could be the ideal source of heat energy for your home. Boilers are a good choice for heating your home with natural gas. If your home has a radiator in every room, chances are you already have a boiler heating unit.
Boilers are substantial in both size and cost. Even so, they typically have lower AFUE ratings and are more efficient than furnaces. Boilers most commonly run on natural gas, but electric and oil-powered boilers are also available.
If you want to delve deeper into the details of high-efficiency heating systems, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy offers an in-depth look at HVAC equipment, installations, and innovations.
Let Us Help You Choose
What is the most efficient heating system? Your friends at Crew Heating and Cooling in Humble, Texas, can help you choose the most efficient heating system for your home and extend the life of your system with regular furnace maintenance.
Don’t waste one more dollar on an outdated heating system. Call us at Crew Heating and Cooling at 832-345-9932 to schedule an appointment with a trained HVAC technician in Humble, TX.
