Furnace Efficiency Levels
Every furnace is given an efficiency rating to describe how efficiently it is capable of operating. However, there are a number of outside factors that can affect whether or not your furnace actually operates at its advertised efficiency level. Today we’re going to about 5 things that can affect furnace efficiency and what you can do to maximize the performance of your heating system!
5 things that can affect your furnace’s efficiency levels
- Maintenance history. The better a furnace is maintained, the more efficiently it will operate. One of the best ways to keep your furnace well-maintained is to schedule a professional tune-up from Hydes every year. A tune-up will take care of any problems that might be affecting the performance of your furnace, in addition to bringing it up to its peak efficiency levels at the start of every heating season.
- Condition of your air filter. Changing your air filter is the single most important task you have as a homeowner to ensure that your furnace runs efficiently. That’s because a dirty filter will block your system’s airflow, which will force your system to work harder and consume much more energy than usual. Checking and/or changing your filter once per month during the heating season is one of the best ways to maximize furnace efficiency.
- Thermostat settings. The lower your thermostat is set at, the less energy your furnace will consume. Every degree counts, so even lowering your thermostat by a degree or two will help ease the load on your furnace and save energy.
- Insulation levels. Insulation provides a barrier for your home that helps contain the heat that your furnace creates. If your home is not well insulated, your furnace will have to work harder and consume more energy to keep your home warm. Hydes offers insulation services that will test your home’s current insulation levels and ensure that every part of your home is insulated to the proper level!
- Duct/air leaks. According to the EPA, about 20 percent of the conditioned air that flows through a typical home is lost through leaks in the ductwork. In addition, warm air can seep out of your home through leaks around your doors, walls, windows and more. With help from Hydes air sealing services, you can ensure that your home is as tightly-sealed as possible and that your furnace doesn’t waste energy on producing warm air that goes unused.
If you have any questions about the various factors that affect furnace efficiency, or if you’d like a heating system serviced or installed in your home, contact Hydes, your Coachella Valley heating and air conditioning contractor.
