HVAC wattage is directly related to the performance and efficiency of an electric furnace or a central air conditioner. Factors impacting HVAC wattage also include typical outdoor temperature range and issues such as airtightness of the structure and the amount and quality of insulation.
Here’s how the electrical consumption of HVAC components relates to heating and cooling performance.
Heating
An electric furnace sized for a typical 2,400-square-foot house consumes about 18,000 watts of electricity per hour of operation. To maintain the 68-degree indoor temperature that’s recommended by the Department of Energy, the thermostat typically actuates two or three 10- to 15-minute furnace cycles per hour.
- The average electricity rate in the United States is 15 cents per kilowatt hour.
- Nationwide, the average monthly expense of heating a typical residence with an electric central furnace is $216.
- Heating with an electric furnace is considerably more expensive than a gas furnace in most parts of the country.
Cooling
HVAC wattage by a residential central air conditioner in the United States averages between 3,000 and 3,500 watts per hour. These units commonly run 15- to 20-minute cooling cycles twice per hour.
Air conditioning cooling power is expressed in tons. An AC unit for a 2,400-square-foot home, for example, requires at least 4 tons of cooling capacity. Energy efficiency of a specific unit is rated by the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) which calculates the amount of cooling output in ratio to the wattage of electricity consumed.
- Depending on the region of the country, standard AC SEER ratings start at 13 and range up to 18.
- High-efficiency air conditioners with SEER ratings up to 25 consume significantly less electrical wattage than standard units.
- The higher the SEER rating, the more expensive the upfront purchase price will be. However, long-term energy savings will eventually compensate.
For more about the link between HVAC wattage and heating/cooling performance, contact Paitson Bros., serving Terre Haute homeowners since 1922.
Paitson Bros
1 (812) 232-2347
Serving the Wabash Valley, IN Area Since 1922