IDEAL COMFORT HVAC IN JOHNSTOWN, COLORADO TIPS TO REDUCE HEAT LOSS AND LOWER YOUR MONTHLY ENERGY BILL
Set Your Thermostat Back 7°-10°F for 8 Hours to Save Money
You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.
To do this easily, buy a programmable thermostat. By lowering the temperature for 8 hours a day, you save approximately $83 dollars a year.
Going on vacation? You can set it lower to 55 degrees (without worrying about your pipes freezing).
Turning the heating temperature down at night and then back up in the morning saves a significant amount of energy.
“Mathematically speaking, the amount of energy required to keep a house warm is equal to the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures multiplied by the time that this difference is maintained.”
Properly Calibrate Your Thermostat
If your thermostat isn’t properly calibrated, you could be overspending on energy. Your thermostat can lose its calibration if dirt gets inside or if it gets accidentally bumped. Have your thermostat checked and calibrated annually, or install a computerized thermostat for the best fuel and cost-efficiency.
Replace an Older Furnace with a High-Efficiency Furnace
According to Jill Murphy, senior product marketing manager, residential heating, Lennox Industries Inc., “Replacing an older furnace that is 60 percent efficient with one that is 98 percent efficient can save homeowners up to $11,469 over the life of the system.” [source]
Furnaces use either gas, oil or electricity for fuel. Efficiency is measured as an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating.
Modern furnaces can have ratings as high as 98.2% (which means only 1.8 % is exhaust).
If you are replacing an older furnace with a high-efficiency (90%+) furnace, you should see savings on your heating bills of 25% – 30%. [source]
Inspect, Clean and Adjust Your Furnace’s Burners
Energy efficiency is gained or lost at your furnace’s burners.
“Be sure to look for any type of rust or corrosion that may have accumulated on the burners due to a condensate leak that might have gone undetected at some point during the life of the furnace,” says Brian Vinsant, product support specialist, residential heating equipment, Rheem Mfg. Co.
Reverse Your Ceiling Fans and Cut Your Heating Costs
Reverse your ceiling fans to force warm air downward, keeping your home more comfortable. This home maintenance task makes rooms with high ceilings more comfortable.
Switching to a clockwise rotation pushes warm air that has risen to the ceiling back down into the living space. This can cut your heating costs as much as 10 percent, according to Popular Mechanics.
Inspect and Boost Your Insulation
Adequate insulation will help keep your home warm in the winter. And if your insulation is insufficient, your heating system will have to work overtime this winter.
By adding some insulation to your attic, walls, and crawlspace, you can save money on heating costs. Insulation is one of the best ways to save energy and reduce costs.
Check and Seal Your Ducts
Studies show 10 to 30 percent of heated (or cooled) air in an average system escapes from ducts. [source]
Ducts that leak air into an attic or crawl space can add hundreds of dollars a year to your heating and cooling bills. [source]
The ductwork that transports the heated air throughout your home will often become damaged with age. When this occurs, you are opening your indoor air up to microscopic air contaminants that can aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms and negatively affect your overall well-being.
These cracks, tears, and other damage will also reduce the furnace’s performance. The best DIY approach is to use mastic sealant or metal tape to fix the damage and then insulate the ducts.
Allow Sunlight to Enter Your Home
During winter, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
Seal Air Leaks
Sealing air leaks can save up to 10% in heating bills.
Most leaks can be fixed with a simple caulking gun.
WHEN IT’S TIME TO CALL AN HVAC PROFESSIONAL: TRUST IDEAL COMFORT HVAC HVAC IN JOHNSTOWN, COLORADO
To learn more about the condition of your gas furnace, contact the pros at Ideal Comfort HVAC. We’ve been providing trusted HVAC services for Johnstown, Colorado.