Only a few people know this, but the most efficient and best furnaces in Calgary last longer, saving homeowners money. Like your vehicle and other machines, your furnace is prone to wear and tear, so the less it gets, the more years it’s going to serve you.
Using a furnace efficiently won’t just save you cash on your monthly gas bills. It will also minimize wear and tear. Plus, through furnace repair and making it last longer, you won’t find it necessary to replace it anytime soon.
So, to help you increase your furnace efficiency, the following are strategies to look at:
1. Clean and Seal Ductwork
Most homeowners don’t know what lurks in their own ductwork. Apart from dirt, ducts may harbor dust mites, pollen, insect droppings, bacteria, dirt, and microbes. Equally vital is a leaky duct through which the heat that you pay for may vanish.
According to experts, average homeowners lose up to 32% of heated air via those leaks. Cleaning ducts help to eliminate contaminants while sealing will close those cracks.
2. Change Air Filters
Poor air quality indoors will become more problematic during winter as there are few opportunities to let fresh air in. Because low temperature means that you need to keep the doors and windows closed, this will increase the chances of pet dander, dust, and bacteria building up in the house.
Air filters play an important role when it comes to getting rid of airborne pollutants that may minimize furnace efficiency. Without clean air filters, debris will build in your unit, and your furnace will find it more difficult to keep your home warm, not to mention you’re more likely to experience high energy bills.
By changing air filters, you will avoid these problems. Having air filters replaced won’t just protect your unit. It will also help to prevent energy waste and maintain air quality indoors.
3. Insulate and Weatherize the House
Air doesn’t leak out of an unsealed duct. It can also leak from uninsulated and drafty rooms. A home with poor weatherization and insulation won’t maintain the right temperatures for long. This, in turn, may make your furnace kick on more frequently.
Sealing around exterior windows and doors with weatherstripping, backer rods, or expanding foam can help a lot. But when hot air rises, you can get a bang for your buck by simply insulating the attic and ceilings.
4. Adjust the Airflow Dampers
The ductwork in the walls of your home acts like a highway, which carries heated air from the system to different places in the house. But ductwork in most houses comes very equipped with dampers so as to control the airflow to different branches of duct networks.
In some situations, you may get efficiency benefits from simply adjusting the dampers in order to fit the season. For instance, if you own a three-story home, you may restrict heat from going upstairs and, at the same time, increase airflow to the first and second stories.
The Take a way
It is imperative that you get your system working efficiently this winter. Doing so will ensure that your house stays comfortable and warm throughout the winter.