4 Ways To Boost The Efficiency Of Your Furnace
Posted on: 21 March 2018
Heating costs are always increasing, which is why it is important to find different ways to boost the efficiency of your furnace,. If you want to reduce spending each month, check out these four tips that will help boost the efficiency of your furnace, making your home warmer for less.
Seal and Insulate Ducts
Forced-air heating is the most effective because furnaces quickly warm your home to a desired temperature. However, because of the ductwork, they are not the most efficient way to heat your home. The ducts travel all through your home, including through cold areas like crawl spaces and attics. During this time, the air has a chance to cool. You can reduce the amount of heat lost during transfer by insulating your ducts. This stops the transfer of heat directly through the metal ducts.
Air escapes through your ducts another way: gaps. It's estimated that about 20 to 30 percent of the air escapes through gaps and holes in the ductwork. You can fix some gaps yourself with metal tape, but in tight areas like crawl spaces, it may be best to hire a professional who can reach them safely.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance is a must for any system in your home, including the furnace. You can do much of the work yourself, including cleaning or replacing the filter when needed. If you have standard fiberglass/paper furnace filters, you'll want to change them every one to two months. Keeping the filter clean allows air to easily pass, which reduces the amount of strain on the system so it doesn't wear down faster.
You should also consider having a professional service your furnace before the heating season because an incredible 75 percent of repairs during the winter are only needed because maintenance wasn't performed. A routine inspection costs only $60 to $85 and includes cleaning, tuning, and identifying potential problems. It's a good idea to get your furnace serviced about once a year.
Get a Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat is an excellent idea for homes where everyone is gone for most of the day at work or school. It lets you use less energy by programming when you want it to turn on or off. Smart thermostats may even allow you to change the temperature when you are not at home, so you can turn off the heat if you forgot to when you left.
Another advanced feature to consider when choosing furnaces and thermostats is zoned heating. Zoned heating allows you to heat parts of your home while leaving unused parts unheated. This allows you to use less energy without putting strain on the system.
Use Other Features of Your Home
You can also make your system more efficient by relying on other features of your home to help heat. The biggest area of your home to consider is the windows. Natural light is a great way to warm your home without spending a dime. On sunny days, make sure your window curtains or blinds are open, allowing the sun to spill inside.
Another feature of your home to use is ceiling fans. If you have ceiling fans in your home, you may use them during the summer to stay cool, but they can also be used during the winter. Hot air rises, so on cold winter days, the heat from your furnace travels to the ceiling, causing the air surrounding you to become cooler. If you set your ceiling fan to reverse, it pushes the hot air back down to the living area.
Forced-air furnaces are incredibly fast at heating your home, but they do allow a lot of energy to be wasted, which turns in to higher energy bills for you. If you are tired of overpaying for your heating, get started today by having your furnace serviced. Contact a company like Dependable Heating & Cooling to learn more.
Share