In the winter, your furnace is charged with keeping your inside temperatures warm and comfortable while the cold winds howl outside. However, performing that task undoubtedly uses a great deal of energy, whether you depend on gas for a furnace or electricity for a heat pump. Fortunately, modern heating systems can accomplish their goal of warming your home more efficiently than ever before thanks to improvements in heating system technology and energy-efficient building techniques. With an up-to-date heating system installed and maintained by a professional heating service, you can get excellent performance and modest energy usage.
However, as good as modern heaters are when it comes to energy efficiency, there is still always room for improvement. Fortunately, there are some things that homeowners can do to ensure their systems provide reliable heating and air in Acworth, GA, without breaking the bank due to exorbitant energy bills. Keep reading to learn what you can do to enhance the efficiency of your heating system this winter.
Get Ductwork Inspected and Sealed
When we think about maintaining an efficient HVAC system, we often focus on the heating or air unit first. However, your ducts are equally as important when it comes to energy efficiency and the performance of your HVAC. In the context of your heater, ducts are the channels or tubes that distribute the heated air from the unit to all the rooms in the house. When those ducts become old, worn, or punctured, that can severely detract from the efficiency of your unit. Warm air will leak out into cold attic spaces, which results in energy loss, while frigid attic air leaks into the ducts and mingles with the warmed air and lowering its temperature. That makes your heater work harder to hold the temperature, which results in more run time. More run time and shorter cycling leads to increased energy usage and higher bills.
Keep the Filter Clean
Another simple but important maintenance task is changing the air filter regularly. Most HVAC systems feature a common blower that moves the conditioned air whether it comes from the heater or AC. When the filter is clogged, the blower must work harder to pull air through the system, which increases energy usage. Your best bet is to change the filter once a month to reduce the wear on the blower and allow it to operate as efficiently as possible.
Preventive Maintenance
Another key to heater efficiency is regular preventive maintenance checks from a reliable heating and cooling company in your area. Preventative maintenance appointments are of critical importance because they involve lubrication of moving parts as well as belt inspection and replacement, both of which can increase the efficiency of the unit. They also give technicians a chance to inspect your system to make sure there aren’t underperforming or malfunctioning parts that could be impacting the efficiency of your system. By proactively resolving potential problems in their infancy, you can avoid subpar operation of your heater that will drive energy costs higher.
Stay Current
While few people would elect to voluntarily spend thousands of dollars on a new heater installation while their old one is still functioning, there is some merit in proactive replacement. Upgrading your heater to a more modern version will allow you to harness the advantages of improved energy-efficient technology in new units that didn’t exist 10 years ago. Also, newer heaters run more efficiently than their older counterparts, so by installing a newer unit, you’ll instantly see a difference in your heating costs.
Try these tips if you want to enhance the energy efficiency of your heating system, as there are many things the average homeowner can do to reduce energy usage. To learn more about ways that you can improve the efficiency of your system, contact Shriver Mechanical at (770) 975-1927.