Energy Saving Tips for Furnaces

Heating or cooling of your home is usually the most expensive of all of your utility costs. While it may be possible to change utility suppliers to reduce your heating costs there are many other steps you can take.

Type of furnace:

Whether you use electric, propane, natural gas or other fuel source, the efficiency of your furnace will have the most effect on your heating costs. Today's minimally efficient furnaces are rated at about 80 to 85 percent. If your furnace is more than 15 to 20 years old it could be even less. Consider changing to an Energy Star rated system. Upgrading to 90 percent or higher will result in significant savings. There are many rebates available both from utility companies and manufacturers that can help with your purchase price and allow you to recoup your investment quickly.

Furnace filters and cleaning:

Replace your furnace filter once every 30 days or as often as recommended by the type of filter you use. Blocked filters will reduce the air flow and therefore reduce the heat you receive from your furnace. If you have a large number of pets you might want to replace your filters more often than recommended as pet hair can block the filter quickly. Have your vents and returns cleaned, or clean them yourself. Blockage in the vents will reduce the heat that each area of your home receives.

Maintenance:

Along with changing your filters and keeping ducts clean, you should have a yearly tune up or maintenance performed. If your blower motor is not a maintenance free sealed unit it should be oiled. Older blower motors can turn more slowly and not force heat through the ducts as efficiently.

Duct work:

Your duct work itself can be an area of heat loss. Check to be sure that there are no gaps or leaks in your connections. Duct tape or putty sealants can be used to close the gaps. For long duct runs adding a layer of insulation to the duct work will stop heat loss in the run.

Thermostat:

Keeping your heating settings at the lowest that still leaves you comfortable can greatly reduce your costs. You can save up to 5 percent for every degree you lower your thermostat settings in the 60 to 70 F range. (15.5 to 21 C) Investing in a programmable thermostat is the easiest way to control your heat settings. Programmable thermostats are available in a variety or price ranges and can more than make up for the initial cost. Set your heat settings lower at night while you are sleeping and program the heat to turn up about 15 minutes before you rise. If your home is empty during the daytime you can also lower your setting for this time period. Even inexpensive programmable thermostats have seven day settings so you can adjust them for work and home days.

General tips:

You can close, or partially close, the vents into unused rooms. However, you should not close off too many vents as this can lead to a backup of heated air. Check your doors and windows for air leaks and caulk or seal as needed. Check around light switches and outlets. Foam insulation pads are available to cut drafts in these areas for about 20 cents a piece.

References:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=furnaces.pr_furnaces
http://www.aceee.org/Consumerguide/heating.htm
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/save_energy.html
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/tips/winter.html