Furnace Replacement Tips To Reduce Annual Energy Costs In Your Home
Are you replacing your old, inefficient furnace? An important issue you should pay attention to when buying a new furnace is its energy efficiency. Today, there's a lot of emphasis on using energy-efficient appliances, which reduces energy consumption and promotes sustainability. Therefore, as you buy a new furnace, here are a few tips to help you reduce your energy consumption and lower your annual energy costs.
Choose Gas Over Electricity
Gas and electric furnaces are two popular options today. However, they vary in efficiency. Gas furnaces are widely used in homes due to their ability to heat a house without consuming much energy. Gas is also cheaper than electrical power. According to research, using all gas appliances can save you up to 30% on your energy bill.
Most homes traditionally used oil or gas furnaces. Thus, replacing your old one with a gas furnace means less retrofitting for your central heating system. This significantly lowers the system's installation costs and saves you money.
Go for Energy-Rated Furnaces
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) runs the Energy Star program, which advocates energy-efficient products. Energy Star-rated appliances meet the EPA's efficiency requirements and standards. Thus, when shopping for a furnace, look for the Energy Star label.
Energy-rated gas furnaces have a high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating, which means the furnace consumes less energy to heat your home. In addition to reducing energy consumption, energy-rated furnaces also qualify for rebates. Thus, you can claim a specified percentage of the furnace costs as a tax credit.
Install Programmable Thermostats
Most old homes use manual thermostats for the central heating system. Manual thermostats can affect the energy efficiency of your system. Since you have to adjust the heat manually, the furnace will run continuously, even when the demand for heat is low. Programmable thermostats automatically adjust the heat depending on the preset temperatures.
Thus, when the home reaches the desired temperatures, the thermostat turns off the system to save energy. You can also operate the thermostat remotely to save energy when you don't need heat. Thanks to artificial intelligence, smart thermostats also learn your habits. They can study your schedule and program themselves.
Set Up a Maintenance Schedule
A new furnace's energy efficiency heavily depends on maintenance. If you neglect the appliance, it will consume more energy and cost you a lot of money to run. Thus, set up a maintenance schedule immediately after installation. The program should contain quarterly, bi-annual, and annual maintenance checklists for the entire system. Proper maintenance will optimize performance, reduce energy costs, and increase the lifespan of your new furnace.
Consult an HVAC contractor who offers furnace replacement services to learn more.
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