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Understanding Furnace Efficiency Ratings

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Understanding Furnace Efficiency Ratings

Posted On: December 11, 2024

Understanding Furnace Efficiency Ratings

Furnace efficiency ratings are essential for homeowners looking to upgrade their heating systems. They measure how effectively a furnace converts energy (natural gas, propane, or electricity) into heat for your home. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand what these ratings mean and why they matter.


What Are Furnace Efficiency Ratings?

Furnace efficiency is typically measured by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. This percentage represents how much fuel is converted into usable heat versus how much is lost during operation.


  • 80% AFUE: For every dollar spent on fuel, 80 cents goes to heating, while 20 cents is lost as waste.
  • 90%+ AFUE: High-efficiency furnaces convert at least 90% of fuel into heat, minimizing waste.

The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the furnace, which can lead to lower energy bills and reduced environmental impact.


Types of Furnaces Based on Efficiency

  1. Standard Efficiency Furnaces (80%-89% AFUE):


    • More affordable upfront.
    • May result in higher long-term energy costs.
    • Common in regions with milder climates.
  2. High-Efficiency Furnaces (90%+ AFUE):


    • Higher initial cost but significant savings on energy bills.
    • Often feature advanced technologies like two-stage heating or variable-speed blowers.
    • Ideal for colder climates where heating demand is higher.

Factors Affecting Furnace Efficiency

  • Age of the Furnace: Older models tend to have lower AFUE ratings. Replacing an outdated furnace with a modern one can significantly improve efficiency.
  • Maintenance: Regular cleaning and servicing keep a furnace running at peak efficiency.
  • Installation Quality: A poorly installed furnace, regardless of its rating, won’t operate efficiently.

Why Furnace Efficiency Ratings Matter

  1. Cost Savings: Higher efficiency reduces energy waste, leading to lower heating bills.
  2. Environmental Benefits: Using energy more efficiently decreases your carbon footprint.
  3. Home Comfort: High-efficiency furnaces often provide more consistent heating and better humidity control.
  4. Incentives: Many states and utility companies offer rebates for upgrading to high-efficiency furnaces.

Choosing the Right Furnace

When selecting a furnace, consider factors like your climate, budget, and home size. Work with a licensed HVAC professional to determine the ideal efficiency rating for your needs. They can perform a load calculation to ensure the furnace is appropriately sized for your home.


By understanding furnace efficiency ratings, you can make an informed decision that balances upfront costs with long-term savings and comfort.



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by alisiena from Toronto on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Fantastic team. Completed the job as per the specifications and in under 3 hours. Highly recommended Twintech.

by David from Toronto on Twintech Heating and Cooling

During the summer, I previously hired TwinTech to replace my air conditioner when it failed. They did an excellent job so when I decided to proactively replace the furnace I contacted them. The furnace I had was 22 years old and showed signs of internal leakage. It still worked but rather than wait to have it fail in cold weather, I decided to purchase a higher efficiency model before it failed and take advantage of energy efficiency rebates. TwinTech offered very useful advice on the make and model of furnace to choose including high efficiency and variable speed motor. The price was reasonable, TwinTech arrived at the allotted time, installed the new furnace (including some re-routing of exhaust lines since the existing ones were too close to other vents), removed the old furnace, tested the installation and cleaned everything up. Overall, it was a good experience, they did a great job and the new furnace is working well.

by Jaime-Lynne in Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Greg came over at 9:30pm to rescue my daughter and I from a horrible experience with Enercare that evening. He was professional. Kind. And got us what we needed quickly and at an afford price. I would 100% recommend calling on Greg and his team for any of your heating and cooling needs in the future!!

by Matt C. Oshawa on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Installed a great hot water heater when our old one failed. When my furnace died during cold weather they showed up quickly and my house was warm before my wife got home. :)

by B Davis in Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

I don’t usually right reviews but when you receive service like this I felt it was a must. Honest and fair. I Have 4 children and on Xmas eve my furnace stopped working and a gentleman came out and got me up and running so at least we would have heat for the holidays. As promised he would replace my furnace early in the new year. The job was completed on time, great price for quality furnace and extremely clean and professional job. Would have never known anyone was in the house. Not a spec of dust or mess from lugging out an old rusty furnace. If you have any ac or heating concerns twintech is your only option. I was royally impressed with and I’m sure you will be too.

by stan.marosek from Ajax on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Class Act ! These guys were professional right from the quote stage through to installation. They know their stuff and took their time to help educate me. They take pride in their work and it shows. I would recommend TwinTech Heating and Cooling to anyone. Keep up the great work !!!

by W. Lacombe in Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

This Company is terrific. No high pressure sales and they deliver exactly what they promise to deliver. The new furnace is great and we now get consistent temperatures throughout the house. The installers were great and very efficient and completed the work on schedule on the promised day. Everyone representing this company was very aware of their presence in our house and worked diligently to keep our home as uninterrupted and as clean as was humanly possible. We did not need to go around the house to clean up after they left, what a nice surprise. We have had follow up by the company to ensure everything is to our satisfaction. How unusual in today's environment. The impression left by Twintech is that they care about us and our home. This is so refreshing in today's high tech world. Out thanks go out to Dave in sales and G, G, and P (the installers).

by jiinyiong in Ajax on Twintech Heating and Cooling

They were Timely and professional. They were very Knowledgeable with answering all of my questions.

by Connie in Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

The entire process was prompt and professional, from the initial quote to the installation of the new furnace. The team installed the new furnace and removed the old one in approx. 4 hrs. The guys were very knowledgeable and gave me lots of information. I have used Twintech before for a new A/C installation and new I was in good hands.

by Valentine in Pickering on Twintech Heating and Cooling

The overall experience dealing with this company was great from start to finish when getting a new furnace and ac this year. Everything was clearly explained to us during our consultation with Dave and there were no surprises with added costs. The work was done as expected and their response time to inquiries were very timely generally within a few hours or less. They are all very professional and was a pleasure to do business with them. Highly recommend to anyone looking for honest quality professional service.

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by Aaron on Twintech Heating and Cooling

We are very happy to recommend this company to everyone. Our furnace broke down on Sunday morning. We phoned them and before noon Grant the owner showed up. He worked on the furnace for about a hour not wanting to give up to fix the problem. The furnace was 17 years old. I was the one talking about replacing it. End result was the next day it was all done. On the Sunday Bob came over with heaters to warm up the house. We decided to replace the water heater at the same time. Thanks Grant for the excellent work. Thumbs up.

by Linda on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Right on time. Explained how to work the HRV in a different way so the house would not be so dry. Changed my whole house water filter for me as well. Friendly, helpful, caring service!

by Robert Rogers on Twintech Heating and Cooling

Very pleased with the professional service that TwinTech Heating and Cooling provided in replacing my furnace. I got several quotes from different service providers. Their price was excellent and they explained the features very well. We are very glad we went with TwinTech and highly recommend their services.

by Robert Mizuno on Twintech Heating and Cooling

We were new homeowners in need of a second opinion. TwinTech Heating & Cooling were Amazing and professional. Very knowledgeable and great service all around. Recommend to anyone looking for honest and reliable services. Treated with respect and care. Thank you Greg, Mitch and Bob!

by Ruth on Twintech Heating and Cooling

TwinTech is an excellent and honest company! I called them for a second opinion after being told by another company that I needed to replace my furnace. Turns out this was not the case at all! I did not need a new furnace. TwinTech did not push to make an unnecessary sale and saved me from a huge expense. Bob and Mitch were extremely professional and above all honest! I definitely recommend TwinTech!

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