One of the most straightforward ways of saving energy (and money) in your home is to reduce the heating load on the furnace. This simply means taking steps so your central heating system doesn’t have to work so hard. The bonus of reducing your home’s heating load is that most of these steps will decrease the cooling load in the summer, as well. Take the following steps and you’ll save energy each month.
Keep a fresh air filter — If your furnace filter is clogged with dust, air can’t move smoothly into the combustion chamber or through the supply air ducts into your home. This forces the blower and other equipment to work harder to heat your home, wasting energy and stressing parts. Check the filter monthly and change when necessary.
Seal air leaks in your home’s exterior walls and windows — After finding places where warm air is escaping (or entering in the summer), use caulk, spray foam or weatherstripping to seal these gaps, cracks and other openings. For comprehensive air sealing, commission an energy audit so you know exactly where air is leaking (and insulation is lacking).
Upgrade insulation — If your home is properly insulated, the interior air will stay warmer during the heating season and cooler in the summer. It’s especially important for the attic to have the right type and amount of insulation (and air sealing and ventilation), since warmth from your living spaces will seek to escape into the attic.
Install a programmable thermostat — This way, you can match temperatures in your home to your own daily schedule. There’s no reason your home needs to be fully heated when it’s empty during the day. At night in the winter, most people are OK with cooler than waking temperatures, too.
Replace inefficient windows — Swap old windows for new, Energy Star-certified windows.
Schedule regular HVAC maintenance — This will keep heating and cooling systems operating efficiently, and provide early warning of potential problems.
For more information on reducing the furnace load in your Indianapolis area home, please contact us at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Brownsburg, Indiana and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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