Switching from an older heating and cooling system to high SEER alternatives can generate annual savings between 15% and 40% in most cases. This could significantly reduce your utility spending.
Learn how high SEER heating and cooling equipment saves you money and schedule your home comfort consultation with Soundview HVAC today.
How Do AFUE Ratings Affect Savings for Gas Heating
AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is an efficient rating for furnaces and boilers. It can help you to choose new heating equipment as you plan upgrades for your home. This figure tells you how much energy is converted into usable heat. The higher the rating, the better.
- Our baseline is older systems with an AFUE rating between 60% and 70%. Annual fuel wasted would cost you around 30 to 40 cents of every dollar.
- Modern systems typically have an AFUE rating of around 80%. This means only 20 cents of every dollar is wasted, so you could enjoy savings of around 15%.
- High-Efficiency systems like those with an Energy Star Rating have an AFUE rating of around 90% to 98.5%. Annual fuel waste is less than 10 cents of every dollar. You could potentially save up to 40% compared to the baseline standard.
You could save in two ways. A higher AFUE would reduce your fuel waste. In addition, upgrading from heating fuel oil to gas would leverage the lower cost of natural gas. The combined jump in efficiency could lead to hundreds of dollars in savings every heating season.
How Much Would You Save with a High SEER Air Conditioner?
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is a metric assigned to air conditioners and heat pumps. It tells you how efficiently the system can convert electricity into hot or cold air.
- Our baseline is the older SEER 8 – 10 standard that is common in air conditioners over 15 years old.
- The current minimum SEER for air conditioners sold and installed in New York is 14. These units are between 40% and 75% more efficient than older standards. You could save up to 25% on annual costs.
- There are more efficient units with SEER ratings between 17 and 21 (sometimes even higher). These can produce savings of up to 40%.
There’s a cost relationship with the SEER rating. Higher efficiency means higher upfront cost, but better savings over time. Your HVAC contractor in Suffolk County can help you choose a system that suits your budget while also generating consistent savings.
Upgrading from an old SEER 10 AC unit to a SEER 17 unit could cut monthly cooling costs by $40 to $80, depending on the size of your home and the quality of the installation. Modern air conditioners and heat pumps last an average of 15 to 20 years, so those savings quickly stack up over time.
Get Detailed Cost Estimates and Savings Projections for an HVAC Upgrade
Soundview HVAC is a trusted HVAC installer in Suffolk County. We are here for any of your home heating and cooling needs. Our home comfort consultants can provide options while covering the costs and potential savings so that you make an informed decision.
Begin the process today and save money with efficient heating and cooling solutions. Call us at 631-209-1744 or request your appointment online.


