Most furnaces have an efficiency rating typically between 60 and 95 percent, depending on the age of the unit. No mater how efficient the furnace is, you can still lose money with a high heating load. The higher the heating load of your home, the more money you will spend on heating bills each month. Reducing your heating load in a mid-Ohio home is not difficult, and it can save up to 20 percent on home heating costs and take advantage of the high efficiency rating of your furnace.
Use the following tips to reduce your heating load:
- Look around doors and windows for leaks. Cracks can allow hot air to escape. Seal doors and windows with weatherstripping or caulk.
- Locate any leaks around the inside or outside of your home’s walls. Seal leaks with spray-foam insulation or caulk.
- Add additional insulation to your walls, crawl spaces, attic or ceilings if necessary. An energy auditor can help you determine if additional insulation is needed in your home.
- Consider replacing windows with Energy Star-rated windows to add additional insulation. You can also use storm windows to keep warm air inside the house. Insulated windows can reduce heat loss through the windows by up to 50 percent.
- Replace the filters in your duct system and furnace regularly. This will help facilitate airflow.
- Seal all duct leaks and kinks using foil tape and mastic. Replace any missing duct sections and add additional insulation to ducts in un-insulated areas, as necessary.
- Consider the use of a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat will keep the temperature in your home at a lower temperature when you are away from home to provide additional energy savings. You can save up to 10 percent of energy costs with the use of a programmable thermostat.
For more information on reducing your heating load, contact us at Joe Behr Plumbing and Heating. We offer HVAC service to mid-Ohio residents and can help you maximize energy savings this winter.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace efficiency and other HVAC topics, visit our website.
Joe Behr Plumbing and Heating, Inc. services the Mid-Ohio area.
