The HVAC system is likely the single biggest guzzler of energy in your home. In fact, household heating accounts for almost two-thirds of the total residential energy use (electricity and natural gas) across Canada.
Installing energy-efficient HVAC appliances like furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps is essential. But how do you know how energy-efficient a furnace or heat pump is?
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER rating) is a measure of cooling efficiency and tells you the energy efficiency of air conditioners or heat pumps. For furnace efficiency, you’ll need to look for the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE).
So, you won’t find a SEER rating on a Lennox furnace—or any other furnace. Let’s find out more about how to assess the energy efficiency of your furnace and other HVAC appliances.
How To Find the SEER Rating on a Lennox Furnace
Lennox furnaces in Canada don’t have a SEER rating. The SEER rating is a measure of cooling efficiency found on an energy-guide sticker or manufacturer’s label on ACs or heat pumps. With a Lennox furnace, the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating can usually be found on the furnace nameplate or label, by searching online or by contacting the manufacturer.
Just to make things a little more confusing for homeowners, a different energy rating is used for the heating efficiency of heat pumps in Canada—more about this below.
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What is a SEER Rating?
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is a measure of how efficiently an air conditioner or heat pump cools a space. It is calculated by dividing the cooling produced by the energy usage in watt-hours.
Nowadays, cooling appliances may feature a SEER or SEER2 rating. SEER 2 ratings are an upgraded version of the traditional ratings, providing greater accuracy for the energy efficiency of appliances.
Understanding the SEER rating is important primarily because higher efficient appliances lead to savings on monthly bills and a lower environmental impact, and may allow homeowners to access government rebates and incentives. The rating also allows homeowners to quickly compare air conditioners or heat pumps based on energy efficiency when selecting new equipment.
Why Do Lennox Furnaces Have No SEER Rating?
In a typical HVAC system in Calgary, furnaces are paired with air conditioners that feature SEER ratings. Sometimes, dual heating and cooling systems include a heat pump and/or air conditioner. This is the only time where you’ll need to know a SEER rating in connection with a Lennox furnace.
Lennox furnaces themselves use the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating to measure energy efficiency. This is standard for gas- or oil-powered heating equipment in HVAC systems.
Decoding SEER Numbers
A high SEER rating denotes high energy efficiency for cooling equipment. Though these units usually cost a little more, they use less energy and are cheaper to run.
Old residential air conditioning systems often had a SEER rating of 10 or less but nowadays air conditioners and heat pumps frequently provide SEER values of 25 or higher.
The current minimum SEER rating for air conditioners sold in Canada is 14 (or 13.4 SEER2). Heat pumps require a minimum SEER of 15 (14.3 SEER2). Units with a SEER rating of 14.5 or higher are designated as ENERGY STAR®, an international symbol for high energy efficiency.
Note too that heat pumps use another comparative efficiency rating for their heating function, known as HSPF or Heating Season Performance Factor.
Where to Find the Seer Rating On Cooling Equipment?
If you need to find the SEER rating of the cooling component of a Lennox-based HVAC system, try the various stickers on the air conditioner, including the manufacturer’s label. Failing that, you can search online by typing in the model number, try the user’s manual or check with the manufacturer or the supplier, quoting the model number.
The model number may include the SEER rating at the beginning. For instance, a model number of “XC21” may indicate a SEER rating of 21—but it’s best to check with your supplier about this first.
What is a Furnace’s AFUE rating?
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is a measurement of the amount of heat produced by oil or gas furnaces compared to how much fuel they use. This energy rating applies to any combustion heating equipment like furnaces, boilers, and fireplaces, in which some of the fossil fuel energy required is used during the combustion process. In many ways, it is a more straightforward measurement than SEER.
Just like a vehicle with a higher miles-per-gallon rating, the higher the AFUE rating, the more energy-efficient the unit is. The US Department of Energy classifies heating systems as follows:
A Lennox furnace with an AFUE of 96 percent converts 96 percent of its fuel into heat and only wastes four percent of its energy (from the burners, air leaks, etc.). Any furnace with an AFUE of 90 percent or higher is considered “high efficiency”. In Canada, 90 AFUE is the minimum requirement for new furnaces.
Similar to SEER ratings, units with higher AFUEs are more desirable—and generally speaking, more expensive—but the higher upfront costs are justified by the lower bills.
Lennox’s SLP99V premier furnace boasts an efficiency rating of up to 99 percent—all but one percent of the energy is used for heating the home.
Where to Find the AFUE Rating on a Lennox Furnace?
The AFUE rating may be listed along with the model number on the nameplate or manufacturer’s label on your Lennox furnace. This is typically located inside the furnace cabinet, on the side panel or near the burner compartment (you may need to remove the furnace door or panel to access it.)
Other methods for locating the AFUE rating of a Lennox furnace include:
What is the Energuide Label?
The EnerGuide label is a sticker on appliances in Canada, informing the buyer how much energy it uses and how it compares to similar models.
Lennox furnaces should feature a black and white EnerGuide sticker. This usually includes the following details:
What is ENERGY STAR® Certification?
ENERGY STAR® is an international symbol for high energy efficiency. It should be included on your Lennox furnace, indicating that the unit performance exceeds Canadian minimums.
Should You Upgrade Your Lennox Furnace for Higher Efficiency?
Whether you upgrade to a higher efficiency Lennox furnace will depend on multiple factors, including:
If your furnace is already 10-15 years old, suffering from frequent breakdowns or performance issues resulting in poor comfort levels at times for your family—as well as significant furnace repair bills—it may be advisable to upgrade your furnace for a newer, more efficient model.
A furnace older than 10 years is unlikely to meet the Canadian standards for new furnaces. That doesn’t mean you can’t use it. However, it does mean that more efficient models are available should you decide to upgrade—and there are many potential benefits of doing so, such as lower energy bills, enhanced home comfort, environmental benefits, lower carbon footprint, etc.
Bear in mind that the AFUE rating is only one factor to consider when selecting a new furnace. Before committing, speak to a furnace professional to discover your options.
Reminder: All Furnaces Need Regular Maintenance to Remain Efficient
Even if you select a new, energy-efficient furnace with the highest AFUE rating available, it won’t remain at peak efficiency unless you book at least an annual furnace tune-up.
Regular furnace maintenance is the single biggest differentiator for furnace performance and ongoing costs—and neglecting it can be costly.
Furnace maintenance ensures all parts are cleaned, checked, and calibrated correctly and good airflow is maintained for optimal efficiency throughout the year. Any problems can be identified and caught early and the lifespan of furnaces prolonged.
Some estimates claim that each year that a furnace misses its maintenance appointment, it loses five percent of its efficiency, on average.
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