How Much Can a High-Efficiency Furnace Save on Your Energy Bills?

Furnace efficiency is calculated according to Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency — or AFUE — ratings. This rating is expressed as a percentage that tells you how much of the fuel you are using in the furnace is being transferred into heat energy for your home. So, if your furnace has an AFUE of 75%, this means 25% of the energy in your fuel is escaping as waste.

How does this translate to high-efficiency furnace savings? Well, it depends on the relationship between your existing furnace’s AFUE and the rating of the replacement. If you upgraded from a 50% AFUE furnace to a 100% AFUE model, you would essentially be doubling the efficiency. If there is no change to your utility prices, this would result in savings of 50% on your bills.

In the real world, of course, this will not be the case. Generally, AFUE ratings are organized like this:

• Many older furnaces have an AFUE of between 56% to 70% AFUE. These are considered to be low-efficiency.
• Most recent models achieve between 80% and 83% AFUE and are considered to be mid-efficiency products.
• Modern high-efficiency furnaces will achieve between 90% and 98% AFUE.

You can expect to save around 45% on your bills when you move from a low-efficiency furnace to a high-efficiency one. Moving from a 56% AFUE unit to a 90% AFUE product will save around 1.5 tons of CO2 annually when you use natural gas to heat an average-sized house in a cold climate zone. This saving rises to 2.5 tons saved when oil is used as a fuel. In the past, the Canadian government has provided fuel-efficiency rebates, and this could result in further savings if the program is re-introduced.

Fuel Efficiency Savings: Things to Bear in Mind

There are a few things to consider when you approach the potential fuel efficiency savings for your new furnace.

The age of your existing furnace

Older furnaces tend to be less fuel-efficient than newer furnaces due to a number of factors, including the decreased performance of older equipment and more stringent regulations on new boilers. The older your boiler, the more you can expect to save when you upgrade to a higher-efficiency model.

Your home’s energy efficiency

You may still be losing energy when you heat your home with a highly fuel-efficient furnace. If your home is not insulated, or if you have single-glazed exterior windows, this could help heat to escape. In turn, this may reduce the potential savings you can expect from your new furnace.

The location of your property

While high fuel efficiency furnaces are available right across Canada, different locations may experience differing costs. For instance, service and delivery costs for a furnace may be greater in a rural area compared to an urban area due to difficult logistics.

Find out how much an energy efficient furnace could save you

If you are considering purchasing a new furnace and would like to know how much an energy-efficient furnace could save you, contact the furnace experts at Aire One in Barrie. We’ve been helping residents and businesses throughout Barrie and the surrounding areas, with all of their furnace needs for over 30 years. Request a job estimate online now to find out how much a new furnace should save you.