When deciding on a replacement heating system, you’ll want to partner with a full-service heating oil company that has highly trained personnel with the knowledge and equipment expertise to guide you to the best choice.
If you’re starting your own research, you’ll probably read about Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). This is a type of energy efficiency rating used for furnaces and boilers.
Efficiency ratings can be a good general starting point, but it’s important to remember that the tests to determine AFUE are all done in a laboratory. Efficiency performance is only as good as your equipment installer. Equipment needs to be installed to the manufacturer’s specifications so you can get the best performance and value for your investment.
Knowing the AFUE rating remains an important piece of information when it comes time to invest in new high-efficiency home heating equipment. However, AFUE doesn’t tell the whole efficiency story—proper heating system installation and periodic heating system maintenance are also extremely important pieces of the equation, as are several other factors.
Your installer will have to determine how much BTU power your new system needs. Some contractors will miscalculate and install a heating system that’s too powerful, or oversized. This will give you more heat than you need, wasting energy and money. But if the system doesn’t have enough power, (undersized), your home will not feel comfortable; you will also spend more on fuel because the boiler or furnace will keep turning on.
To determine how much power your home’s heating system needs, an experienced heating oil service provider will do tests to figure out how much heat your home loses in the winter.
Once a proper-sized system is selected, your heating oil company will install it the right way. This requires skilled technicians with specialized training. A furnace or boiler is not a like a refrigerator that you wheel into the kitchen and plug in. A heating system installation takes much more work!
Bottom line: Installing a new heating system will increase energy efficiency and save you money, as long as the boiler or furnace is sized and installed correctly.
If you’re ready to explore new heating options for your home, your local heating oil company will be happy to help. Please remember to ask us about current rebate opportunities.