If you equate saving money this heating season with turning the thermostat for the furnace down, you could be shivering unnecessarily. It could be possible to reduce the amount of time this hard-working appliance runs by cutting its heating load. Your home may be losing heat through all its cracks and crevices, or it could be seeping outdoors from the windows and insufficient insulation.
Heat is constantly moving toward cooler temperatures, and it’s this movement that increases the load on your HVAC system year round. When you put barriers in place to slow or stop the movement, the load on the furnace reduces. Besides saving energy, you’ll increase the dependability and lifetime of the system because it won’t have to work as hard to keep you comfortable.
Energy Audit
The fastest way to learn where your home is losing energy is by auditing it. You can perform an audit yourself or hire a licensed contractor who will perform a thorough evaluation. Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, you’ll learn where to seal the cracks around the envelope and add insulation.
Windows can lose substantial energy if they’re not Energy Star or thermal-rated. Single-pane and some dual pane windows transfer heat rapidly. Even high efficiency windows can leak heat if they don’t close tightly or have gaps around their frames and the home’s envelope.
Making Improvements
Caulk, expanding foam, and weatherstripping will seal most areas of leakage, but the product should be selected based on its application. Metal flashing and special foams should be used around chimneys, vents and wires.
Adding insulation to the attic will cut heating costs immediately and could be a home improvement project within your means. Adding wall insulation usually requires a professional, since it’s usually blown in using special equipment.
Reducing the load on your furnace without having to sacrifice comfort by improving your home’s energy efficiency does require an investment, but compared to the savings, it’s well worth the time and money. To learn more, contact Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning, providing HVAC services for Fort Wayne homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about reducing furnace load and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 260-376-2961.
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