They say that an ounce of prevention can save a pound of cure, so let’s start thinking about how you can prevent your heating bills from ballooning out of control in the winter months ahead.
We know it’s hard even to think about your furnace while we’re living through a scorcher of a summer. But there are some simple steps you can take now to improve your furnace’s efficiency when the cold weather returns.
Here are five tips that TF Complete Heating & Cooling recommends to preemptively boost your home furnace’s performance.
Your central A/C equipment uses the same ductwork and air filter as your furnace, so you need to check it at least once a month. The furnace filter prevents dust, debris, bacteria and other airborne pollutants from entering your home. However, a dirty or clogged filter will restrict airflow and make your heating and cooling equipment work too hard. If your air filter is dirty, you can either clean it (if it’s reusable) or replace it.
In the summer, ivy, weeds and other plant life can grow into the outdoor vents that your furnace uses to take in air and expel combustion products. Late summer is a good time to look at your vents and remove any foliage that might clog them. Doing so will help your heating equipment run more efficiently and safely.
Your thermostat can make a huge difference in terms of maintaining your home comfort while lowering your energy consumption. In fact, you can reduce your home heating and cooling costs by up to 10% simply by turning your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees from its standard setting for 8 hours a day.
So, invest in a programmable or Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat. You can schedule these energy-saving adjustments for times of the day when you’re asleep or out of the house.
A furnace maintenance visit from a professional heating technician can pay for itself quickly with improved energy efficiency and a lowered risk of an equipment breakdown. Arranging heating service each year will also extend your furnace’s lifespan.
We’re encouraging homeowners in Bristol, Middlesex, Norfolk and nearby counties to reach out to our Franklin, MA, office and set up a maintenance appointment today — before the cold weather returns. Once winter hits, our technicians will be extra busy, responding to no-heat emergencies. You’ll have a better selection of appointments today, and your furnace will be ready to go well in advance of the first cold snap.
If your furnace is over a decade old, you are potentially missing out on some significant technological advances that could boost your fuel efficiency. Today’s furnaces have fuel efficiencies as high as 98.5%. As you might imagine, upgrading from an older furnace could lower your energy bill by a considerable amount for years to come. The Tom Fricker team is at your disposal to discuss your furnace installation options.
Are you interested in arranging service for your furnace or receiving a FREE quote on a new heating system? Reach out to us to start the conversation.
Contact us today to schedule a routine maintenance visit. If you need an emergency repair, please call our office right away at 508-507-6702, and we will get to your home as soon as we can.