Making your home Energy Efficient - SEER Ratings, HSPF Ratings, AFUE Ratings and BTU
Nobody expects you to be an HVAC service technician – that’s what we’re here for – but if you’re thinking about having a home heating or cooling system installed or repaired, or just want to make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible, there are several terms you should at least be somewhat familiar with.
SEER ratings (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio)
- SEER ratings are an important metric that determines the efficiency of your home’s cooling system
- SEER ratings measure the rate at which a cooling system uses energy to cool your house
- SEER ratings are like miles per gallon on a car; the higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the system
- Visit www.ahrinet.org, which provides a comprehensive list of systems with their SEER ratings
At 72 Degrees Heating and Air Conditioning our trained professionals strive to provide you with efficient systems that boast high SEER ratings while remaining cost-effective. We take several factors into consideration, including regional weather conditions, to determine an estimated number of cooling hours your home will need each year. We then identify, match-up and install complimentary cooling system components to ensure they obtain the highest possible SEER ratings and efficiency.
You need to know that an HVAC system manufacturer’s motivation is to achieve the highest SEER efficiency rating at the lowest cost…but you should also know that it’s our motivation to make sure you get the best system for your needs.
HSPF ratings (Heating Season Performance Factor)
- HSPF ratings measure the rate at which an electric heat pump uses energy to heat your home.
- Here’s a fact: the average home in the state of North Carolina experiences more heating than cooling hours
- Another fact: North Carolinians’ heating bills are, on average, higher than their cooling bills
Much as we evaluate SEER ratings, 72 Degrees’ professionals use weather conditions and other factors to measure HSPF ratings and determine the best possible system for your house. We will provide you with a system that operates at high HSPF ratings while keeping your home nice and comfy during those chilly winter months.
AFUE ratings (Annual Fuel Utilization of Efficiency)
- AFUE ratings are used to monitor gas and oil systems
- AFUE ratings are measured in percentages and can be influenced by a number of factors, including heat that may not be captured directly into your home
- For example, a gas furnace operating at a minimum AFUE rating of 80% may cost you $.20 for each dollar you spend to heat your home, due to heat being directed into pipes and vents.
At 72 Degrees we know how expensive it can be to heat a house using gas or oil. That’s why we strive to ensure that all of our customers’ systems maintain the highest possible AFUE ratings. It’s not only our goal to keep your house warm, but your heating bills under control.
BTU (British Thermal Unit)
- In cooling – it is the amount of heat that must be removed to reduce one pound of water, 1 degree Fahrenheit Fº.
- In heating – it is the amount of heat that must be used to heat one pound of water 1 degree Fº.
- 1 ton of cooling is equal to approximately 12,000btu/h. It is the amount of power required to melt a 2000lb block of ice in 24 hours.
This means your HVAC system must be in tune to always produce the desired amount of heat or cool air. 72 Degrees’ professionals accurately measure BTU and work to ensure that your system is doing its job year-round.
And Remember…
The two most important things to consider when purchasing an HVAC system are:
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Equipment selection.
Make sure you have components that match-up well with each other. If not, the system will not work as efficiently as possible, so work with a professional to ensure that all of a system’s components fit.
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Proper installation.
The most important day in the life of the system is the day it gets installed. It’s startling to note the National Comfort Institute estimates that most systems get installed incorrectly at only 57 percent potential capacity. If an HVAC unit isn’t installed correctly, it may not even be able to match the efficiency of the 12 – 15-year-old Sherman Tank system you’re replacing.
Remember: a heating and air conditioning system will always cost you more to own than to buy, and the money you spend over the life of the system will be far more than the initial purchase price. But having some knowledge at your fingertips will help minimize that cost. If you’d like to learn more SEER ratings, HSPF ratings, AFUE ratings, BTU – or just about how 72 Degrees can help make your home more comfortable, energy efficient and cost-effective — contact us. We’re here for you no matter what time of year it is.
only 57 percent potential capacity. If an HVAC unit isn’t installed correctly, it may not even be able to match the efficiency of the 12 – 15-year-old Sherman Tank system you’re replacing.
Remember: a heating and air conditioning system will always cost you more to own than to buy, and the money you spend over the life of the system will be far more than the initial purchase price. But having some knowledge at your fingertips will help minimize that cost. If you’d like to learn more SEER ratings, HSPF ratings, AFUE ratings, BTU—or just about how 72 Degrees can help make your home more comfortable, energy efficient and cost-effective—contact us. We’re here for you no matter what time of year it is.
Completely Satisfied: To take advantage of the tax incentives, I decided to replace my main floor HVAC/heat pump earlier this year. 72 Degrees was by far the most professional and thorough of the 4 contractors I interviewed. Quoted price was fair and included everything I wanted and nothing I didn't...
Outstanding customer service is always worth it's weight in gold if you ask me. Had our home heat pump go belly up. The guys from 72 Degrees came out and gave me what I feel was an honest assessment of the problem. Heat pump DOA… I DID NOT shop around and I usually give myself all the time I need for a purchase this large. This is how impressed I was with the salesman, his professionalism and over knowledge of his product...
Outstanding Company. I would give them a 6 if I could. They were very prompt in getting to the job, as a matter-of-fact, they called and asked if it was alright for them to come 2 hours ahead of schedule. This was "NOT" a problem for me. The tech was friendly and knew what he doing. He offered me options that no other service provider offered. He was done in about an hour and I had my system working again. I would recommend these guys any day of the week.
Courteous, Professional, Company with fast response time. I have been using 72 degrees for over a year now and every time I call they are right there. Their technicians are courteous, and professional and very knowledgeable about any issue that you may have.
Member Comments: Everyone I interacted with was very professional as well as friendly. There were other groups that I looked at that were less expensive, but 72 has the BEST warranties out of the service providers I looked into. I know they stand behind it as well. One of my friends used them and had an issue after installation; he told me the fix was taken care of immediately, and the president of the company came out to make sure he was satisfied. These folks stand behind their name and that means a lot to me. 
72 deg. replaced my heating/cooling system. They were always on time , They called me to tell me when they would be working. The replacement was done very fast… 72 deg. had the right tools, manpower, and equipment to provide and install my new heating/cooling system. The front office worked hand in hand with the field crews to provide a super job "Well Done." 
