Let’s talk about CENTSibile energy savings!
It’s the time of year when we start to get many calls from people throughout our community. The time of the year when we turn on our furnaces!
Most U.S. homes are heated with either gas-forced-air furnaces or boilers
Furnaces heat air and distribute the heated air through the house using ducts. Boilers heat water and provide either hot water or steam for heating. Steam is distributed via pipes to steam radiators, and hot water can be distributed via baseboard radiators or radiant floor systems or can heat air via an a-coil. Steam boilers operate at a higher temperature than hot water boilers, and are inherently less efficient, but high-efficiency versions of all types of furnaces and boilers are currently available.
What does energy efficiency mean?
A central gas-forced air furnace or boiler’s efficiency is measured by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). The Federal Trade Commission requires new furnaces or boilers to display their AFUE so consumers can compare the heating efficiencies of various models. AFUE is a measure of how efficient the appliance is in converting the energy in its fuel to heat over the course of a typical year. The higher the number, the more efficient it is.
What can we do to save on energy bills?
Using less energy has lots of benefits – you can save money and help the environment. Here are some great tips!
Install a programmable thermostat: Set it to lower the temperature at night and whenever the house is unoccupied. Lowering your thermostat by 10 degrees at night can reduce your heating bill by 10 to 20 percent.
Make sure your programmable thermostat is:
- Installed properly and programmed appropriately – a programmable thermostat only saves energy when it is programmed.
- Not located in an unheated space, a poorly-sealed or seldom-used room, or in direct sunlight near a heat source. The thermostat should be able to sense the average temperature in your home. If it is not in the right place, contact a heating and air conditioning professional about having it moved.
Lower your thermostat:
- Wear socks and a sweater indoors. Lowering the thermostat by just one degree Fahrenheit can reduce energy use by at least 3 percent.
- If you have a gas-forced air furnace, inspect your filters at the beginning of the heating season and monthly during the season. Clean or replace them if there is significant dust build-up.
Get a humidifier to add moisture to the air. The air inside your home can be very dry. Moister air feels warmer, so a humidifier can help you feel comfortable even though your thermostat is set at a lower temperature.
Get your furnace inspected and tuned up by highly trained heating professional technicians at Standard Heating & Air Conditioning!
Ensure the safety of your family while making sure that your furnace is running at peak efficiently, by calling Standard Heating & Air Conditioning today for a furnace tune-up.
If your furnace is broken, make sure to call our 24/7 emergency heating service! We treat your emergency as our emergency. In case you are looking to replace your 20-year-old furnace, make sure to visit our Special Offers page and schedule your FREE in-home estimate.
Visit CENTsible Media Energy Hour for more information.