The U.S. Department of Energy has divided the country into three regions with different furnace efficiency standards: the Southeast, Southwest and North. Ohio falls into the northern region, and the changes in furnace efficiency standards go into effect in May 2013. The current efficiency standard for fuel-burning furnaces is 80 percent AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency), and the new regulations raise the minimum to 90 percent, a substantial increase in efficiency.
The changes mean that any Ohio resident buying a new furnace after May 1, 2013, will have to choose equipment that meets the 90 percent standard. The new rule for the northern region requires condensing furnaces. These models have a component that removes the heat that would otherwise be lost, by condensing the water vapor created when the fuel is burned. The moisture is drained into your home’s plumbing and the condensation process increases the system’s efficiency substantially.
The goal of the changes in furnace efficiency standards is to reduce energy consumption, which lowers carbon dioxide emissions and the demand for non-renewable fuels. Although these furnaces will cost more upfront, homeowners who install them will recoup their investment with lower heating costs. In cold-winter climates such as Southwest Ohio’s, the energy savings will accumulate faster than if the furnace was operating in a warmer climate.
If you prefer heating and cooling with a heat pump, the new standards for these appliances don’t change until Jan. 1, 2015. At that time, the new SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) will be 14 and the HSPF (heating season performance factor) will increase from 7.7 to 8.2.
If your existing furnace is less than 10 years old, it may not need replacement for a few years. You can increase its efficiency immediately by having it serviced by an HVAC professional and changing the air filter for the blower when it gets dirty.
If you’d like more information about the changes in furnace efficiency standards, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services. We can evaluate your current heating system and help you explore options for your future heating needs under the new regulations. We’ve proudly provided HVAC services for the Dayton area since 1978.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace efficiency standards and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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