One of the greatest things about modern furnaces is that they are highly efficient! Homeowners across the country are choosing gas-powered furnaces as their main source of heat during the winter, and Cedar Falls residents are no exception. Today’s furnaces can have as high as a 95% AFUE rating, heating your home at a fraction of the cost and energy consumption as furnaces of the past.
That said, you could still use your furnace inefficiently, however unintentional that might be. If you’re going to invest the money in a high-efficiency furnace, then you deserve to get the most out of it for your money, right? Read on as we share some tips on how you can use your furnace even more efficiently than you already may be.
Schedule Routine Maintenance
Maintenance isn’t something we just casually suggest for our customers. It’s absolutely vital to keeping your heating system functioning as effectively and efficiently as possible for as long as possible. Annual maintenance tune-ups allow our technicians to fully inspect, clean, and adjust components that need it.
This service also helps you avoid up to 85% of the repairs your furnace might ever need in its lifetime, plus tuneups extend that lifetime!
Ensure Insulation Is in Good Shape
Insulation doesn’t impact the efficacy of your furnace, but it absolutely impacts its efficiency. Insulation is a year-round necessity to prevent heat transfer in and out of your home. It keeps the heat out in the summer and keeps it in during the winter.
The right type and amount of insulation will help your home maintain an even temperature so that your furnace doesn’t have to run as often or for as long as it would need to otherwise, therefore saving you energy and money.
Schedule Air Duct Sealing
Did you know that breached ductwork could cause you to lose about 30% of the conditioned air coming through your furnace? This is air that you are otherwise paying for! Your air ducts might be leaking due to poor installation to begin with, or even pinhole leaks or small tears that have accumulated throughout the years.
Ductwork can accumulate damage from high heat–so if you have ductwork in the attic, the radiant heat from the sun beating down on the roof can cause ductwork degradation. Air ducts can also get damaged from rodents and pests in your home. We hope this isn’t the case for you, but it’s something to be aware of nonetheless.
Please don’t hesitate to give us a call if you suspect you may have a ductwork problem. Not only will managing it help your furnace efficiency, but it will help your overall indoor air quality too.
Consider a Thermostat Upgrade
If your thermostat is off by even just a few degrees, it can have a serious negative impact on the functionality and efficiency of your HVAC systems. If you’re using an old manual slider thermostat or even a basic digital thermostat, you might want to consider looking into your smart thermostat options!
At Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc., your comfort is our promise! To set up an appointment for furnace services in Cedar Falls, give us a call at the number above, email customerservice@daltonphc.com or schedule an appointment online.