How to Keep Your Home Heating Costs Down This Winter

Your furnace uses more energy than any other appliance in your house. Consequently, the cost of heating your house accounts for the biggest part of your energy bill - an overwhelming 60%. Even if you're using natural gas, which saves 40% to 60% over using electricity, oil or propane, winter can still hit you in the pocket book. If you're in the market for a new furnace, upgrading to a more efficient model could be the most effective way for you to improve your home's energy efficiency and save money on energy costs. And even if you're not ready to buy a new furnace, tuning up your existing one should help keep your winter heating bills down.

What you can do to keep your existing furnace operating at its peak this winter.

1. Change or clean furnace filters regularly.
2. Inspect fan belts while you change the filters. Replace if cracked or worn (turn off electricity first!)
3. Insulate ducts in unheated areas with fireproof insulate. Seal cracks and joints with duct tape.
4. Vacuum heat and return air ducts regularly.
5. Close off heat registers and doors to unused rooms. Tip: Do not shut more than one-third of total heat registers. This forces furnace to cycle more frequently.
6. Adjust room registers (open them and ensure they are clear of rugs or furniture) in the rooms you use.
7. Vacuum baseboards if you have a radiant baseboard system.
8. Consider a programmable thermostat. You'll save energy at night and while you're away, and return home to a warm house.

While you can do a good deal of furnace maintenance by yourself, some things should be left to the experts. A qualified technician should service your furnace according to the manufacturer's instructions.

What only a qualified technician should do.

1. Tune-up the furnace. A qualified technician can clean and adjust the pilot burner, main burner, fan or blower, and test and tune your furnace for maximum combustion efficiency.
2. Check chimney and appliance vent system.
3. Do a full safety inspection. Tip: Make sure a one-year parts and labour warranty is included on any work done.
   

What if you need a new furnace?

At a certain point it makes more sense to replace your old furnace than to service it again. Chances are you'll know when you reach that point. If you're presently at this point, it is helpful to know what is currently available in natural gas furnaces. Natural gas furnaces are available in mid- and high-efficiency models - either of which will heat your home at a fraction of the cost of electricity or oil. By law, the minimum allowable furnace efficiency is 78%, the starting point for mid-efficiency models.

Mid-efficiency furnaces.

Mid-efficiency furnaces are considered today's average furnace. They have electronic ignitions, eliminating the need for a continuous pilot. They also have induced draft fans which provide better control of combustion air, eliminating the need for a draft hood. You'll find mid-efficiency furnaces from 78% to 83% efficient.

High-efficiency (condensing) furnaces.

High-efficiency furnaces range from 90% -97% efficient. They have an additional heat exchanger to recover even more heat from the flue gases. Therefore, they use about 30% less natural gas than a similarly-sized standard natural gas furnace while providing the same heat. And because high-efficiency furnaces can be vented through an exterior wall, they give you more flexibility in installation.

High-efficiency furnaces generally cost more to purchase than mid-efficiency models, but the higher price can easily be offset by long-term fuel cost savings and possible savings from eliminating the need to construct a chimney in a new home.

How to select the right furnace for your home.

Before you select a new furnace, consider the following points:

Furnace Sizing: To give you the most comfort and economy, your new furnace must be the correct size to meet the heating needs in your home. Factors such as the size, construction and heat loss of your home, local winter temperatures, ductwork design, filter system, venting and space limitations should all be taken into consideration. Furnace sizing should be determined only after your heating contractor has completed a "design heat loss" calculation for your home.

Home Improvements: If you're upgrading your home's windows, doors, weather-stripping or insulation, it is best to do it before you choose a new furnace. The resulting reduction in heat loss may decrease the size of the furnace you need and allow you to purchase a smaller, less expensive model for your home.

Obtaining Quotes: Purchase and installation prices may vary considerably - always compare the products of a variety of manufacturers and get several installation price quotations. Make sure you're comparing similar products.

Installation: A well-designed furnace must be properly installed to achieve its maximum efficiency. After your furnace installation is complete, ask your contractor to certify that all tests specified in the manufacturer's instructions have been carried out. Be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's directions for your furnace's operation and maintenance.

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