What is AFUE?

7064132288 • October 24, 2019

Energy efficiency is one of the most important keystones in saving the consumer the most money. With proper efficiency your unit can save the consumer a substantial amount of money yearly. What AFUE pertains to is the energy efficiency of your furnace. As a consumer or a technician efficiency should be up on your priority list.

AFUE is an acronym that stands for: Annual, Fuel, Utilization, and Efficiency. The standard efficiency of a furnace that can be sold in the U.S. is 80%. That is the lowest efficiency furnace available for installation in the United States. 90% efficiency is the next level in the furnace efficiency tier. The 80% efficient furnace is known as a standard furnace while the 90% efficiency furnace is known as a high efficiency furnace/ condensing furnace. How fuel efficiency is measured in these units is by measuring how much fuel is exhausted in the flue or otherwise known as the exhaust pipe.(see picture below) Technicians also use a formula to measure the output. (refer to the simplified formula below)


(Heating Output)/ divided by (Energy input)



What is the difference in 10% efficiency?


Let’s start off with our standard 80% furnace units and what 80% efficiency means exactly. The difference in efficiency is mainly due to heat loss. Heat loss and furnace efficiency directly correlate to one another. On a standard unit the temperature of the exhaust in the flue averages at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. While your high efficiency 90% unit is only exhausting about 125 degrees fahrenheit on average. The 125 difference in a heating system is everything. The more heat loss you can avoid the greater the efficiency of your unit will be. For every 1$ you spend on an 80% furnace you are losing 20 cents on the dollar. For every 1$ you spend on the 90% efficiency furnace you are only losing 5 cents of every dollar. This is due to the higher fuel consumption efficiency of fuel. (Refer to the graph below)

As you can see there is a direct correlation between energy efficiency and savings. The better your AFUE is the more money you will save yearly. Our Technicians here at A+ comfort can easily calculate your AFUE rating and begin to save you money today. Contact us at (256)585-2550 to be sure how efficient your HVAC system is so you can start saving energy and money today!!

   Gas Furnace Equipment Components and How They are Utilized

By 7064132288 • November 26, 2019
There are many different parts that keep your furnace operating smoothly and efficiently. Below we will be breaking down the individual parts of your furnace system. We are going to be focusing on gas powered furnace components and non-geothermal heating methods. We are not going to be focusing as much on furnaces such as space heaters, but a lot of the space heaters have the same parts. We want to focus today on furnaces that are directly tied into a HVAC system. The furnace components we will be discussing will most likely belong to your standard furnace that is tied into a duct system.

 Global Climate Change and How it Affects HVAC

By 7064132288 • November 26, 2019
As we progress in technologies the HVAC industry continuously is changing with new technology. This new technology provides a lot of benefits not only for the consumer, but global climate change as well. These technologies have helped increase the energy efficiency of the unit and overall systems. Below we will discuss why this is beneficial to global climate change.

Why You Should and How You Should Clean Your Dryer Vents

By 7064132288 • November 25, 2019
Lint build up in your dryer vent is a huge fire hazard due to the combustibility of lint. Lint builds up in more places in your dryer duct system than most people realize. Here in this blog we will be giving a detailed description on how to clean, identify, and avoid these huge fire hazards.

How Long You Can Expect Your HVAC System to Last and Factors That Contribute to Shorter Lifespan of System

By 7064132288 • November 25, 2019
Furnaces typically have a life expectancy of 15-20 years on average. Heat pumps last 16 years on average. Air conditioning units generally last 16-20 years. Tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of 20 years while a gas or electric water heater have a life expectancy that’s half that. Even though the older units were significantly less energy efficient, they malfunctioned a lot less. In the older units there were much less parts that could malfunction and the system while low in efficiency was very straightforward. Due to the lack of moving parts the older systems could take a lot more abuse from the elements and much less maintenance. They were less susceptible to dirty filters, plant overgrowth on the outside of the condenser, dirty blower wheels, dirty coils, and oversized ductwork. The newer systems save you much more money relative to the old ones. The new units require more maintenance but have the potential to last just as long as the old units while simultaneously saving you way more money on energy efficiency.

 Tips On Buying a Furnace for a Historic Home

By 7064132288 • November 25, 2019
When buying an older home there can be a lot of things to consider. If you still have the original furnace system of the home it most likely is outdated, unsafe, and very low efficiency. If you are flipping a house to resell it replacing the furnace system can increase the value of your home. When replacing a furnace system we here at A-Plus Comfort LLC are here to help advise and inform you on the multiple things to consider.

                 Why Your Furnace is Blowing Cold Air 

By 7064132288 • November 25, 2019
When winter arrives, the last thing you need is your furnace going out. The furnace of your HVAC system provides heat throughout your entire home, so during the winter, it's very important that it’s working properly. I will explain also how to troubleshoot a furnace as well.

The Difference Between a Good and Bad Install

By 7064132288 • November 13, 2019
When performing a HVAC system install there are a lot of very important factors that must be considered each time. Experience and knowledge of HVAC systems is highly viable when doing installs or service calls.

Reasons to Use a Programmable Thermostat

By 7064132288 • November 13, 2019
Convenience is the first reason we are going to discuss why a programmable thermostat is right for you the consumer. If you like your home at a certain temperature, a programmable thermostat can ensure that it stays in the temperature range you set for it. Not only that, you can program the thermostat to make your house reach a certain temperature before you arrive home in the afternoon and before you get up in the morning. These settings are what differentiates between a normal and programmable thermostat. Because of these settings your thermostat will help you save lots of money by not running while you are away. It has been reported that the average consumer can save about 10-30% on their heating and cooling costs alone. Maximum energy saving settings are pre-programmed for your convenience. A programmable thermostat has precise temperature control with only one degree variations. Most programmable thermostats also tell you when it's time to change out the filter in your unit as well. A programmable thermostat is compatible with almost all systems and is super easy to install. There are many programmable thermostats to choose from according to your lifestyle. For every consumer a programmable thermostat is a cost effective and smart option. If you have kids for example and the kids get home earlier than you, sure you could trust them with your thermostat, but with a programmable one you wouldn’t have to worry about that at all. Your home will be the exact temperature that you want it at when you arrive or leave your home. With the hustle and bustle of busy life who wants to worry about the thermostat. Go out and get a programmable thermostat today or call us.

Zone control system in HVAC

By 7064132288 • November 13, 2019
A zone control system splits your home into multiple zones. By doing this a zone system is increasing the efficiency of your system. Also each zone can be heated or cooled independently of the other zones. For example you may like your bedroom much cooler than your living room. A zoned system can ensure that is achieved.

Why you should choose A-Plus Comfort LLC?

By 7064132288 • November 13, 2019
A-Plus Comfort LLC, is a veteran owned and operated HVAC business. Collectively our technicians and staff have over 20 years of experience, and understand that you the consumer deserve the best quality service provided. Here at A-Plus Comfort LLC, our mission statement is ensuring customer satisfaction and comfort.