How to Reduce the Load on Your Furnace

You've probably heard the terms "heating load" or "cooling load" in reference to the furnace and air conditioner. Sometimes experts advise reducing these loads on the HVAC system to save money on utility bills. Heating and cooling loads will also affect the size of the furnace or air conditioner you need. Here's a brief explanation of these terms and how understanding them can help you save.

Defining Heating (and Cooling) Loads

Load refers to how much heat has to be added or removed in a space to achieve a desired temperature range. When you're planning to upgrade your heating system, your HVAC consultant will refer to your home's heating load, or how much capacity a furnace must have to heat the home to the desired temperature. Reducing the load means finding ways to make the home more efficient so a system with a lower capacity can be installed. It also means preventing heated air from escaping the home — and cold air from infiltrating — so that the furnace works efficiently to achieve the temperature set points.

Heating and cooling loads are determined by software calculations, based on input from data collected on the home, including square footage, how many and what size windows, the home's orientation, insulation and many other factors. The software calculates the home's heating or cooling load so that the consultant can determine what size HVAC system is needed. The more efficient the home, the smaller the heating or cooling load, and the less heating or cooling capacity an HVAC system will need.

Increasing Efficiency

Here are a few things you can do to reduce your heating load this winter and lower your bills:

• Caulk or install weatherstripping around windows and doors to keep out drafts.

• Install a door sweep on exterior doors.

• Install insulation around pipes, cables and wiring that enter through holes in exterior walls.

• Insulate electrical switches in exterior walls.

• Add insulation in attics and walls. Attic insulation should be above joists.

To learn more about reducing the load on your furnace, contact Air Assurance. We've served the Broken Arrow area for 30 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Imagentle/Shutterstock”

Summer Heat Gain and How It Wrecks Your Cooling Efforts

Broken Arrow's scorching summer heat requires heavy use of air conditioning to keep you comfortable. As a result, your cooling bills are probably much higher than you'd like. Preventing heat gain is a major factor when it comes to decreasing the cooling load of your system. Heat gain refers to anything that heats up your rooms in the summer, such as heat-generating appliances, air leaks, and solar energy that strikes your home's exterior.Heat gain increases the cooling load of your air conditioning system, which must then run overtime to keep you comfortable. This leads to more wear on your heat pump or A/C and increases your energy bills. Combating summertime heat gain is essential for comfort, optimum system performance and lowering your cooling costs. Here are some ways to beat the extra heat that infiltrates your home when temperatures soar.Treat WindowsInstall awnings over windows that are exposed to direct sunlight to help shade them from the sun's energy. Plant bushes or trees in front of them to further decrease the warming effects of sunlight. Keep your interior window shades closed during the day.Paint the ExteriorDark home exteriors absorb more heat than light colors. When you're ready to paint, choose lighter pastels to reflect more sunlight and keep your rooms cooler.Shore Up InsulationInsulation in your attic blocks heat from entering your home and helps keep your rooms cooler. You should have 15 inches of R-38 insulation in your attic, as well as adequate ventilation to control the temperatures in your home.Seal Air LeaksKeep warm air out of your home. Use caulk and weatherstripping to seal cracks and gaps around doors and windows, service entrances, and pipes that penetrate exterior walls.Use Appliances WiselyAvoid using heat-generating appliances like your stove and clothes dryer when the sun is beating down on your home. Instead, do your cooking and cleaning early in the morning or later in the evening.For more advice about combating heat gain, please feel free to contact us in the Broken Arrow area at Air Assurance Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Jane Kelly/Shutterstock”