A furnace is rated for efficiency using an AFUE (Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency) measurement. Essentially, the AFUE number is a percentage which relates to the amount of energy that is used to heat your home. In other words - how much heat do you get to enjoy inside the house versus heat that escapes out of a chimney or vent pipe? With the new 98% efficient furnace, you only lose 2% of heat out of the vent pipe!

A furnace over 16 years old can have an AFUE
rating as low as 50%, meaning you only utilize 50% of the heat created. Modern furnaces have dramatically better AFUE numbers ranging between 80 - (and now) 98%. With price increases in natural gas, this can mean dramatic savings over the course of just a few years. In addition to savings on your heating bill, there is a positive effect on the environment. Reductions in the amount of carbon dioxide that get released into the air by a new furnace are significant.

The best time to install a new furnace is always...now. We say that because the costs of gas is not going down, and the price of metal is skyrocketing. You don't do yourself any favors by waiting until the prices are like your old flue...through the roof!