Efficient Furnace? Get the Most Out of the System in Your Tulsa Home

Winter can mean high heating bills here in Northeastern Oklahoma. Purchasing an efficient furnace is a great decision, and can result in a lot of energy and money savings over the lifetime of the system. You may find, however, that the efficient furnace isn't enough- it needs an efficient household to operate at peak efficiency. If your efficient furnace isn't at its best, there are a few things you can do to reduce your energy use and give your furnace a boost. These tips can also help to improve the performance of an older, less efficient furnace if you aren't quite ready to replace it.

The first step in boosting your furnace's heating power is making sure to schedule routine maintenance. Even if there doesn't seem to be a problem, have a professional give your furnace a check-up every year. This habit is fairly low-cost, and will catch small problems before they become major issues. You should also be sure to change your furnace's air filter routinely. It's recommended that you change it every three months, but you can replace it monthly if anyone in your home has air quality concerns. Blocked filters can overwork your heater and waste energy.

Once you've done the maintenance on your furnace, it's time to to make sure the house itself is well-sealed. Check around the house for leaks, or hire a professional to do an energy evaluation. Seal any gaps that you find around windows and doors, and fill in any gaps in insulation. It's also important to check your ductwork, as duct leaks are often a major culprit in home heat loss.

To save even more on energy costs, change your heating habits. Turn down the thermostat a couple of degrees, or install a programmable thermostat, which will heat the house based on your schedule and preferences, even when no one is home. Be careful not to change your thermostat settings too often. Frequent temperature adjustments can put undue strain on your furnace.

Contact Air Assurance for more expert advice on using your efficient furnace and increasing household efficiency in Broken Arrow.

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). 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

An Efficient Furnace Should Have an Efficient House

Having an efficient furnace goes a long way toward cutting your heating costs, but if your home lacks adequate insulation, has heat losses through the windows, or substantial air leaks, you may not notice as much savings. One of the best ways to learn if you could achieve lower energy bills is with an energy audit that you or a professional can perform.

A professional audit will show you where you have air leaks throughout your home's exterior and detect any leaks in the ductwork that cause high energy consumption. The auditing team will also evaluate your attic insulation to see if and where you need more. The centerpiece of the audit is a blower door test that pulls the air from your home and pulls it inside anywhere you have leaks and gaps. The professionals pinpoint the locations using thermographic equipment that shows the temperature difference between the incoming air.

You can perform your own audit by closing up your home and turning on the kitchen and bathroom fans. As you walk through your home with a candle or incense stick, note where the smoke wavers, indicating a leak. Once finished, you can seal smaller air leaks with suitable caulk. Expanding foam will seal larger leaks around the foundation or in the attic. Weatherstripping around exterior door frames will tighten the seal.

The recommended level of insulation in attics in this region stands R-38 or 16 inches. Increasing it will quickly help your efficient furnace run less. Thermal losses from either the roof or the windows increase the need for heat substantially.

Windows are a bit more challenging to weatherize, but doing so will cut your heating costs. Options include replacement with Energy Star or thermal windows, but if those aren't in the budget, consider plastic window kits that stop some of the heat transfer. Heavy drapes will also stop the losses, especially when they lie close to the window.

To learn more about increasing your energy savings with an efficient furnace, contact Air Assurance. We've provided top-notch HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners for more than 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). Image courtesy of Shutterstock