The efficiency of your gas furnace can have a direct impact on yearly heating bills, as well as your home comfort and the useful lifespan of your system’s equipment. Keeping your furnace running efficiently is easy if you follow these simple tips.
Schedule an Annual Furnace Tune-up
You’ll see the greatest boost in efficiency by scheduling a maintenance visit at the start of each heating season. During the visit, a NATE-certified technician will inspect, clean and make necessary adjustments to keep your heating system operating at maximum efficiency. Regular preventative care can also help avert breakdowns and prolong the equipment’s life. To maintain efficiency in between tune-ups, replace your filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat
If you currently have a manual model, you can improve your heating efficiency by asking your HVAC contractor to install a programmable thermostat. You can program setbacks based on your daily and weekly schedule to automatically lower the temperature when you’re sleeping or are away from home.
A 10-degree adjustment made for at least eight hours a day can reduce annual heating costs by up to 20 percent. If you already have a programmable model, recheck the program occasionally to make sure it still matches your habits and provides the greatest possible energy savings.
Have the Ductwork Sealed and Insulated
Leaky, uninsulated ducts can cause a loss of up to 30 percent of warm air produced by your furnace. Not only does this decrease energy efficiency, but it also makes it harder to stay comfortable. Talk to your HVAC pro about sealing gaps and holes in all accessible ductwork.
Your technician will start by checking all the connections to ensure they’re secure, and then applying mastic sealant or metal-backed tape on joints and seams. The final step is to install insulation, which may be in blanket, tube or wrap form. To gain the biggest benefit, make sure that the insulation being used is at least R-6.
To learn about other effective ways to increase the efficiency of the gas furnace in your Dayton home, please contact Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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