All heating systems throughout the United States are required to meet minimum efficiency standards. When you choose a new boiler or furnace for your home, you can expect it to use about 80% of the fuel it consumes to produce heat. Although this is certainly an acceptable fuel utilization rate, you can enjoy far more benefits by opting for a high-efficiency design. Here are five of them.
1. Lower Your Carbon Footprint
If you’re concerned about the impact that your home is having on the natural environment, upgrading to an energy-efficient heater is one of the best things that you can do. During the winter months, residential heating equipment accounts for about half of the average household’s total energy use. Moreover, fuel-burning appliances account for the vast majority of its greenhouse gas emissions.
The annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of boilers and furnaces doesn’t just tell you how efficient these units are. It also provides valuable insights into how much fuel is being incompletely burned and then released as exhaust gases.
A furnace with an AFUE rating of 80% will release far more greenhouse emissions than will one with an AFUE rating of 97% or higher. It’s also important to note that this upgrade will keep you ahead of fast-changing efficiency standards throughout the State of New York and the nation. Choosing a high-efficiency model now will give you a heating system Brooklyn NY legislators approve of.
2. Increase the Marketability of Your Home
If you plan on putting your home on the market within the next several years, choosing a high-efficiency boiler or furnace is a great way to boost its appeal. Savvy home buyers are always on the lookout for systems and appliances that reduce their own carbon footprints, limit their spending, and give them access to cutting-edge features and capabilities. Upgrading your heater for improved efficiency can also boost your home’s value. This is an opportunity to get the most advanced and user-friendly heating system Brooklyn NY residents can buy.
3. Dramatically Reduce Your Overhead Cost
With your heater likely accounting for half of your household’s energy use in the winter, an energy-efficient heating system could cut your monthly utility costs by quite a bit. Over time and when accounting for the related gains in property value, the extra up-front expense for an energy-efficient furnace or boiler installation will prove worthwhile.
4. Replace Your Heating Equipment Less Often
Boilers and furnaces that meet the nation’s minimum efficiency standards have expected lifespans of about 15 years. Sadly, many of these units will have already lost about half of their efficiency after just 10 years of service. Comparatively, high-efficiency furnaces and boilers can last 20 to 25 years. Throughout this time, you’ll also pay less for heating system repair. Best of all, these units continue operating at impressive levels of efficiency well beyond their first decade of use.
5. Boost Your Indoor Comfort
High-efficiency heaters come with variable speed motors that operate at the lowest possible speed and run fewer heating cycles. Their heating cycles also have longer run times. With significant energy being consumed at the start of each heating cycle, fewer start-ups are just one of several ways in which variable speed motors reduce energy use, prevent excess wear, and limit the need for heating system repair services.
However, longer heating cycles also improve the ongoing air filtration that your HVAC system supplies. Thus, even without integrated indoor air quality accessories, you’ll have fewer allergens and other airborne contaminants floating around your home.
An energy-efficient boiler or furnace can make a significant difference in your monthly energy bills, your property value, and your carbon footprint. An energy-efficient heater can even give your home comfort a significant boost. Contact Vigilante Plumbing today to request an estimate or find out more about upgrading your heater.
