Most Effficient Residential Gas-Fired Boiler
Having an efficient gas-fired boiler could be the difference in how much heat you receive and how much money you spend on a heating unit. Boilers are used for heating water or spreading heat throughout a household. When looking for an efficient boiler, check the unit's AFUE rating; the rating should be labeled on the unit. Certifications from Energy Star and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers let you know the efficiency of a gas-fired boiler. Does this Spark an idea?
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AFUE
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Annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) is a measurement that determines a furnace's or boiler's efficiency. The AFUE is the ratio of heat output of a boiler compared to the total energy used by the boiler. For example, an AFUE rating of 70 for a gas boiler means that 70 percent of the boiler's fuel energy transforms into heat, while the remaining 30 percent escapes. The U.S. Department of Energy requires all manufactured noncondensing gas boilers to have a AFUE rating of at least 75 percent. Condensing gas boilers usually have a higher AFUE rating than do noncondensing units.
Aluminum Heat Exchangers
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Gas boilers with aluminum heat exchangers transfer heat three times quicker than do exchangers made from other materials. A heat exchanger transfers heat from one medium to another, such as transferring heat from gas to water. Two gas-fired boilers with aluminum heat exchangers are Weil-McLain's Ultra Series 3-UE and Lennox GWB9-10 boilers. The AFUE rating of Weil-McLain's Ultra Series ranges between 91 and 96. The Lennox GWB9-10 boiler has an AFUE rating of 90.
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Energy Star
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Energy Star is an international program that rates the energy efficiency for air conditioning heating and ventilation systems. Energy Star–qualified boilers meet strict energy standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. According to its website, Energy Star–qualified boilers use approximately 6 percent less energy than do nonqualified boilers. All Energy Star–qualified boilers have AFUE ratings of at least 85 percent. The Burnham Freedom and Alpine gas-fired condensing boilers are Energy Star–qualified units. The Freedom and Alpine boilers have AFUE ratings of 95.
Other Efficient Boilers
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The NTI boiler manufacturing company produces nine Trinity gas boilers that are Energy Star–qualified. The Trinity boilers AFUE ratings range from 85 to 97; the Lx150e model has the highest energy efficiency rating at 97. The Peerless Purefire gas-fired condensing boiler has an AFUE rating of 97.3 percent. This boiler has six models and is certified by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
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