No matter how energy-efficient your heating system may be, if it hasn’t been sized properly for your home, it will never be able to keep up with the heating demands you place on it. If you can’t replace your existing unit with one that’s correctly sized — big enough and powerful enough to do the job — then your best option is to reduce the heating load of your house.
The “load” is the total amount of heating that’s needed to keep your home at the desired temperature level. The load increases if your house isn’t energy efficient. Because energy and warm air are being lost at various points, you must run your furnace at a higher level to achieve the level of comfort you want. By improving your home’s energy efficiency, you can dramatically reduce the total load. You’ll be able to run your furnace at a lower level and still be comfortable. At the same time, you’ll save money from less energy waste and decreased consumption of heating fuel.
Here are a few things you can do to reduce your home’s heating load:
- Add more insulation where needed to stop air and energy leaks. Concentrate on insulation in the walls, attic, basement, crawl spaces, and heating system ductwork. Make sure to seal holes in the walls where pipes, conduits, or wiring comes into your home.
- Seal gaps and leaks around doors and windows with weatherstripping or silicone caulking.
- Install storm doors and windows to keep out cold drafts. If possible, replace windows with energy-efficient types with double-pane insulation, low-e glass, and other energy-saving features.
- Perform regular maintenance on your heating system. Preventative maintenance is the most important thing you can do to keep your furnace or heat pump running efficiently. Regularly change the system’s filters; fresh filters improve efficiency and reduce malfunctions and breakdowns.
For more than 30 years, Ace Hardware Home Services Heating and Air Conditioning has provided trustworthy heating and cooling services to Dayton and surrounding areas. Contact us todayfor information on how to reduce your home’s heating load and improve your heating system’s performance.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heating systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Ace Hardware Home Services services the Ohio’s Miami Valley. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
