Heating & Cooling
Furnace
Furnaces are often an expensive purchase, so it is ideal to get an efficient one to keep your house comfortable and warm when the weather turns cold. Replacing and purchasing a new furnace can be a huge undertaking, and as such, it is recommended that you hire a qualified and licensed contractor to help you make the best decision possible for your house. An important part of choosing the right furnace is understanding and knowing the construction and layout of your home. Often times, a contractor will be able to perform an audit to calculate the potential heat loss as well as vent and ductwork needs for efficient air flow.
A furnace will typically use natural gas to heat your home, but still requires some electricity. Therefore, it is relevant to have an efficient motor for your furnace, such as an electronically commuted motor. If you are looking for an energy efficient furnace, a good place to look is for ENERGY STAR certified models. An ENERGY STAR furnace will typically use up to six percent less energy.
To help save energy, it is also important to keep up on regular maintenance of your furnace. This includes keeping your filters clean and replacing them every three months.
Central Air Conditioners
Did you know that electricity bills tend to rise up to 30 percent in the summer due to air conditioning? Here are some tips to be energy efficient and keep costs down when choosing a central air conditioner.
The average lifespan of a central air conditioner unit is approximately 15 to 20 years. Just as it is important to get a qualified and licensed contractor for a furnace, it is equally as important to get one for a new HVAC system. A licensed contractor will help determine the right size of the new central AC. Purchasing the right size for your home is important to help save energy because if its too small, it will not be able to keep up and its too large, it will cycle on and off frequently, both leading to decreased home comfort and high energy costs.
Some energy efficient features you can look for when purchasing your new central air system are:
- Large coils. Large coils allow for more efficient heat transfer and are often quieter
- Fan-only switch. This feature allows you to turn off the unit’s cooling but leave the fan on to circulate air.
- Automatic delay fan switch. This keeps the fan on so it can utilize left over cool air.
- Filter indicator light. This is a good feature that lets you know when the filter requires changing.
