Is Your Furnace Wasting Money?

9/17/2013

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. That can mean a lot of wasted dollars if your furnace hasn’t had a tune-up recently.

Increase the performance and efficiency of your heating system by following a few of these simple tips:

Change your air filter regularly

Check your air filter once a month and change it at least every three months. Dirty filters slow down airflow and make the system work harder to keep your home at the right temperature. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system. This buildup can lead to big repairs and early system failure later on.

Tune-up your HVAC equipment yearly

Just like properly maintaining your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and save you money.

Install a programmable thermostat

A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from their homes during set periods of time throughout the week. For example, it can turn the heat down while you are at work and then turn it back up before you get home. This gives you the best of both worlds. You save money during the day and are able to come home to a comfortably warm house. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you around $180 every year in energy costs.

Seal your heating and cooling ducts

Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating system by as much as 20 percent — and sometimes much more.

Consider installing new heating and cooling equipment

If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, have it evaluated by a professional HVAC technician. Before you invest in a new system, make sure you have addressed the big air leaks in your home and duct system. These can be the source of the problem. If your heating system is still not performing as it should, consider replacing it. Our experts can walk you through the process to ensure you get the system you need.

Learn more about heating system maintenance or replacement.

515-657-6634Request Appointment Online

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