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What Does AFUE Mean?

Written by Casey Mullis on . Posted in HVAC.

While an air conditioner’s efficiency is measured by its SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating, an electric or gas- or oil-fired furnace’s efficiency is measured by its AFUE, or average fuel utilization efficiency. This standard measurement is given in percentages, letting you know how much of your fuel is actually used to heat your Tennessee home and how much fuel is wasted. 

The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the unit is. Typically the ratings or percentages you’ll see on new furnaces range from 80 to 100 percent (contingent upon the fuel type of furnace being rated). If a furnace has an AFUE of 80 percent, this means the furnace converts 80 percent of the fuel to heat your house, while the remaining 20 percent is lost, usually out the chimney.

How Do You Use AFUE When Purchasing a New Furnace?

Keep in mind that AFUE is only the efficiency of that furnace to convert fuel into heat. The higher the number, the better it is at that conversion. So, yes, that will save in energy costs. 

But the higher-efficiency furnaces also cost more than their lower-efficiency comrades. That’s something you need to be mindful of when new-furnace shopping. You need to weigh these factors against one another, as well as the cost of your type of furnace fuel, when looking to make that decision. 

Angi recommends using the age-old advice of always going with the most efficient furnace you can afford. Our technicians at True Blue Heating & Cooling here in Franklin are experts at factoring all these components into the best recommendations for a new furnace for you. Call us any time for an appointment.

In general, the type of fuel your furnace uses is more important in determining the optimal furnace for your home than the AFUE is. Fuels such as gas, propane, and electric vary greatly in cost and need to be one of the first decisions you make when it comes to purchasing a new furnace. 

Once you’ve decided which fuel you’ll be using (you may opt to change your fuel source from your present one when upgrading), then compare the AFUE ratings on furnaces with that fuel source. 

Also, be sure to compare apples to apples—don’t compare an electric furnace’s AFUE to a gas furnace’s rating. They’re totally different. And as mentioned above, if you’re doing a cost analysis on your upcoming furnace purchase, be sure to factor the fuel costs into your analysis. 

Even though an electric furnace may have an AFUE rating of 100 percent, the cost of electricity is higher than gas. So while the gas furnace’s AFUE rating of 96 percent indicates it’s more costly in its efficiency than the electric furnace, it’s actually be cheaper for you to go with the gas furnace due to the high cost of electricity.

Questions to Ask When Furnace Shopping

What are my long-term goals for my home?

If you’re only staying in your home for a few years, then purchasing a furnace with a lower AFUE may be the way to go. It will cost less, and there’s no way to recoup the price difference between a higher-efficiency unit and the energy costs saved in just a couple years. If you’re planning on retiring in this home, then you would definitely recoup that cost and go on to save more with your energy bills throughout the years.

What type of furnace fuel will I use?

This question may be determined by your home’s location––suburban area versus rural area, city and state versus other cities and states. Call True Blue Heating & Cooling for answers to what’s most used here in Franklin. Also, call around for various fuel pricing. Just because you have a specific-fueled furnace now doesn’t mean it’s the most efficient now, fuel wise. You may find another even more cost effective.

Once you know the answers to these two questions, you can competently shop for your new furnace directly comparing AFUEs. Factor in your annual heating costs when comparing different furnaces with similar (or different) AFUEs, and you’ll have a sound process for helping you to decide the best furnace for your home and goals.

Contact Us Today

Talk with one of our True Blue Heating & Cooling professionals with questions you may have or to schedule a furnace appointment. Here in Franklin, TN, we can be reached at 615-568-7450 or request service online.

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Aaron Jones
Consistently great service!
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sondra moungey
Always amazing and honest
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Zachary Kelver
Great customer service. They worked as fast as possible to fix our AC during recent heatwave. Thanks to Randy and the team for all the hard work. Can't say enough about how nice, friendly and efficient they are. We recommend to everyone to call True Blue!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Zachary! We appreciate your kind words and are glad Randy and the team could assist you during the heatwave. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
Sarah Lockridge
Thank you Randy and Joey for going the extra mile to make sure that we have a clean HVAC system! I appreciate you guys so much!
Response from the owner:Hi Sarah! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a positive rating.
Justin Weaver
Randy was awesome. Came on time as scheduled and was straight up and easy to work with. If you need work on your HVAC this company is a good choice.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Justin! We're glad to hear that Randy made your experience smooth and easy. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to assisting you again!
Mary Lynn Hegdahl
I believe Casey has finally solved my problem! Yay!
Response from the owner:thank you for the review, a pleasure to help you with your air conditioner service
Ferg 20
Casey got everything back up and running fast, was awesome to talk to, even showed me how everything fit together and issues to look out for in the future. Price was fair and maintenance plan will help in the long run. Excellent service.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Ferg, for your fantastic feedback! We're glad Casey was able to help you and provide insights for the future. Your appreciation means a lot to us!
Tamara Gajda
Response from the owner:Thank you, Tamara, for your fantastic 5-star rating! We truly appreciate your support.
Kevin Glisson
Great service and installation. Great for returning phone calls and showing up when they say. Overall a great experience
Response from the owner:Thank you, Kevin, we appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear you had a great experience with our service and installation!
Samson Lilly
Technicians are always great - friendly, considerate, and they know their stuff.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Samson, for your kind words about our technicians; we appreciate your recognition of their friendly and knowledgeable service!
Jennifer
I can't say enough things about how incredible this company is. Their entire staff works as a team to pull off miracles and provide the BEST service. We had an all hands on deck situation for our AirBnb home today relating to the AC/duct work and they came to the rescue to resolve the issue effectively and efficiently, on the same day without interrupting our guests who were checking in! We have always had a great experience with True Blue on all previous jobs as well. Ever since we found them we won't go anywhere else.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Jennifer, for your amazing feedback! We're so glad our team could help with your Airbnb situation and ensure a smooth experience for your guests. We appreciate your loyalty and look forward to continuing to serve you!
Aaron b
Response from the owner:Thank you, Aaron, for the fantastic 5-star rating! Your support means a lot to us.
Steve Sturgeon
Randy was personable, efficient and informative. I would recommend this company
Response from the owner:Thank you, Steve! We appreciate your kind words about Randy and are glad to hear you would recommend us for air conditioning repairs!
Lindsay W. Barrier
It’s always a hard decision when it comes to major replacements and/or repairs in your home, but I didn’t think twice before calling the team at True Blue! They are available for emergencies, always dependable and, most importantly, trustworthy! Randy was super easy to work with, friendly, very informative and took time to answer any and all the questions I had. Even though we all hope to never be in these situations, I know I can depend on True Blue to help me through (hey….if you ever need a jingle let me know! 😁)! Highly recommend True Blue! THANK YOU
Response from the owner:We're overjoyed to see your 5-star rating! Thank you for sharing your positive experience with us.
Drewin Young
We are very grateful for the team at True Blue Heating And Cooling. Randy (who was the lead man on this project) went above and beyond to get what we needed. Because the attic opening was so small, the previous contractors on our house brought up the AC unit and built around it...after the fact. That posed a problem for future renovations, obviously. Randy knew this was an issue, so he painstakingly took apart the whole brand new AC unit in our front yard, then hauled it up the ladder (one by one) and in pieces. Watching this reminded me of the song "One Piece at a Time" by Johnny Cash. Randy then proceeded to re-build the AC unit inside the attic and in the natural heat. Randy's assistant was also a big help in this endeavor. Zero complaints by these guys. They just wanted to get the job done and efficiently, which they did! Thank you so much you guys! Also, check out the picture of this brand new unit that they just released in the new year! It runs great! - Drewin & Carrie Young
Response from the owner:Thank you, Drewin, for sharing your experience and appreciation for Randy and the team; we're glad to hear they exceeded your expectations and got the job done efficiently!
AV M
Could not recommend more. Highly professional, courteous, knowledgeable, reasonable, fast, goes out of their way, respectful to property, kind, and no hassles.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Av, for your wonderful feedback; we truly appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear you had such a positive experience!
Steve Shockley
Response from the owner:Thank you, Steve, for the fantastic 5-star rating! We truly appreciate your support and are here to help whenever you need us.
Wes Chacon
Response from the owner:Thank you, Wes, for your 5-star rating! We appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again.
Ronald Hyder
True blue is a awesome company to have come out
Response from the owner:Thank you, Ronald, for your kind words about True Blue; we appreciate your support and are glad you think so highly of us!
Malachias Gaskin
True Blue communicated effectively and was able to diagnose the issue with our AC unit quickly. They repaired it in a timely manner and made the air in our bedrooms cool and awesome. We can't thank them enough. 5 out of 5 always recommend them! Clean and professional everytime.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Malachias, for your wonderful feedback! We're glad to hear our team was able to resolve your AC issue and provide a comfortable atmosphere in your home. Your support and recommendations mean a lot to us!
janice stephenson
Friendly and great service!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Janice! We appreciate your kind words about our friendly and great service, and we're glad you had a positive experience.
Patrick Williams
Great service, super friendly, and had me up and running very quickly. 10/10 stars
Response from the owner:Thank you, Patrick! We're glad you had a great experience and appreciate your kind words about our service.
Alan Mostaccio
Excellent Service from true blue heating and air service technician Matt was punctual, polite, and knowledgeable . Great price on preventative maintenance twice a year!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5 star review!
Debra McHenry
Response from the owner:Thank you, Debra, for your wonderful 5-star rating; we truly appreciate your support!
Valerie Logan
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We're thrilled to know you had a fantastic experience with us.
Lynn Croft
Casey is one of the kindest most thorough person. He did my service, answered my questions and was very helpful. I am thankful for him and his team.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Lynn, for your kind words about Casey and his helpfulness; we appreciate your feedback and are glad you had a great experience!
Erica Rhymer
Response from the owner:Thank you, Erica, for your wonderful 5-star review! Your support means a lot to us.
Bill Price
Response from the owner:Thank you, Bill, for the 5-star rating! Your support means a lot to us.
Chrystal Crosby
This install of an entire system could not have been a better experience. I am so happy and the system works so very awesome. I wish I would’ve done this years ago.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Chrystal! We're so glad to hear that your installation experience was fantastic and that you're enjoying the system. Your satisfaction means a lot to us!
Robert
Always great and dependable service. Been with them for 3+ years…..
Response from the owner:Thank you, Robert, for your loyalty over the past 3+ years and for your kind words about our dependable service!
Troy Young
Excellent service and very detailed in their work. Super friendly and glad to have them taking care of our home.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Troy! We appreciate your kind words and are glad to hear that our team's friendly service and attention to detail have made a positive impact on your home.
Donna Hickman
First time home owner and I feel comfortable with the service I received today.
I feel at ease going into Summer knowing my unit is doing good.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Donna! We're so glad to hear you feel comfortable and at ease with your unit as a first-time homeowner.
Michael Clinton
Skye, a very polite. professional, and personable young man, performed a seasonal check up on our heating an cooling system this morning. He explained what our systems needs and the priorities of each problem. He also got us set up for a membership for maintenance that works for us. We would like to follow up with him for future work. Thanks Mike C.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Michael, for your kind words about Skye's service; we're glad he could help with your heating and cooling system and set you up for maintenance. We look forward to assisting you again in the future!
Adonis Fiakos
Casey and team did a great job!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a 5 star review!
Myles Cornwell
True Blue has taken very good care of me the past three years. Very pleased with their service.

-Myles
Response from the owner:Thank you, Myles, for your kind words and for being with us for the past three years; we truly appreciate your support and are glad to hear you're pleased with our service.
Kim H
Easy to work with. Friendly and helpful.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Kim, for your kind words; we’re glad to hear you found us easy to work with and appreciate your recognition of our friendly and helpful service.
Clyde R Troutman
Casey and Matt showed up late into the evening due to issues on previous jobs but were excellent at diagnosing and fixing the A/C problem very quickly. I was impressed, so much so that I asked to get on a maintenance contract immediately.
Need to mention that a few of my neighbors have had similar experiences with True Blue. I considered honest and very fairly priced. Thanks, guys!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Clyde, for your wonderful feedback! We're glad Casey and Matt could quickly resolve your A/C issue, and it's great to hear that your neighbors have had positive experiences as well. We appreciate your trust in us and look forward to serving you on your maintenance contract!
Julie Dearman
I would recommend True Blue Heating & Cooling for air conditioning or heating needs! It was super hot summer and our air went out and they were able to replace our old system quickly and at a good fair price. They worked fast and did a great job.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Julie, for your kind words and recommendation! We're glad we could help you stay cool during the hot summer and appreciate your recognition of our team's hard work.
Christopher Click
Very pleased with the service provided by Randy! He was on site less than 24 hours after putting in the request, carefully went through our system and made recommendations on repairs or additions, and when we decided to move forward, he scheduled for next day and had everything installed and ready to go in about an hour. We were not happy with our previous HVAC company and wanted to try someone different. We’ll be sticking with True Blue moving forward!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We're thrilled to know you had a fantastic experience with us.
linda franklin
Couldn’t ask for better installation and repair technician.- Matthew offered knowledgeable, efficient, professional and friendly service. We are extremely pleased with our new unit.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Linda, for your kind words about Matthew's service; we're so glad to hear you're pleased with your new unit!
Adam Mills
Casey and his team always knockout my new custom home builds on time and in budget. If you’re looking for professional and knowledgeable workers in this field then this is the company to hire.
Response from the owner:We're overjoyed to see your 5-star rating! Thank you for sharing your positive experience with us.
Kahraman Tanriverdi
Response from the owner:Thank you, Kahraman, for your 5-star rating! We appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again.
avmills2010
Fast and fair pricing. Highly recommend these guys!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Avmills2010, for your kind words and recommendation; we truly appreciate your support!
Riley Hedrick
Impeccable, prompt, thorough service. Highly recommend!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Riley, for your wonderful feedback; we truly appreciate your recommendation and are glad you had a great experience!
Joseph Whitmarsh
They responded and were honest and trustworthy.
Response from the owner:Thank you Joseph! So glad we was able to help you with your hvac replacement in Spring Hill.
Michael Pawson
Response from the owner:We appreciate your feedback. Thank you for the review!
Kalee Madorin
We have used True Blue twice now. Both times we were happy with our experience. This time, although an unfortunate diagnosis for an entire new unit, Matt was fantastic! He was helpful, informative, very upfront and made the process seamless and quick to get handled. Very friendly and professional. We will be using them for all future needs!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Kalee, for your kind words and for choosing True Blue again; we're glad to hear that Matt provided you with a fantastic experience, and we look forward to assisting you with your future needs!
Tim Hester
Quick, professional, and respectful. 100% will use again.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Tim, for your kind words; we appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again!
Mark Mathis
Would recommend True Blue, good company with knowledgeable technicians.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Mark, for your kind words and recommendation; we're glad to hear you had a great experience with our knowledgeable technicians!
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