Whatever the type of fuel used by your furnace, the efficiency of your heating system will determine not only how comfortable the temperature in your rooms is in winter, but also the amount you will have to pay for energy. According to statistical data, heating-related costs amount to at least half of the total utility expenses that households need to deal with during the cold months. Fortunately, there are many great ways to improve the efficiency of your heating system – here are a few.
Weatherizing the Home
The weather stripping around the doors and the windows, the insulation on the walls and on the ceilings are essential for maintaining the home’s energy balance without using up excessive amounts of energy.
Check the areas around the windows and the doors for cracks and holes through which cold air can penetrate your home – in most cases, these issues can be quickly and easily fixed with some caulk and paint. The areas around the points where cables and pipes enter the home can also be too large – check them, too, then adjust the size of the holes with some more caulk.
Installing proper insulation can also help your heating system work less by preventing heated air from escaping. Check the insulation in your attic or invest into insulation if the area underneath your roof is not insulated – the improvement will help you reduce heating costs in winter and cooling costs in summer.
Pay Attention to Your Heating System
Furnaces and the other components of your system work hard all winter and they need to be regularly inspected and maintained to be able to function at the top of their capacity. The best time to perform maintenance work is in fall, before the cold weather settles in and heaters are turned on. The operations include the cleaning and the inspection of all the important components, the replacement of the filters, if necessary and a thorough testing to make sure everything is perfectly functional. If you feel up to it, you can handle routine maintenance work on your own, but you can also decide to call a professional for the job – most furnace Denver furnace repair company contractors offer maintenance services as well and their rates are very affordable.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
These compact, modern devices are very affordable, while also being great energy savers because they allow homeowners to adjust the temperature in their rooms to the most comfortable levels. With a programmable thermostat, you can set the temperature higher in the rooms that you spend more time in and lower in unused or rarely used spaces and you can also set the time when you want your heater to turn on. The most modern programmable units can be controlled via Wi-Fi and they allow the owner to make adjustments from anywhere, via laptops, smartphones or tablets.
Programmable thermostats are very efficient when it comes to ensuring comfortable temperature inside your home and it is also an excellent device for reducing energy costs the year around, in winter as well as in summer.