How to Increase the Efficiency of Your Heating System

Go Green and Save Green

Increasing the efficiency of your heating system not only lowers your carbon footprint, it also helps to save you money on your energy bills. Whether you are looking to save money or save the world (maybe both), implementing recommended improvements in your home is sure to help. The best way to start improving your home's energy efficiency is to have a Home Energy Audit performed by a certified professional.

A Home Energy Audit will provide you with information about what areas of the home would benefit most from improvement and identify any hazards caused by your HVAC system. Even if your home heating system is rated at the top of the efficiency scale, if your home is leaking energy it cannot work properly and will waste your energy dollars. Your HVAC or Home Energy Audit contractor is a wonderful source of home energy information-- consult with these professionals before making changes to your Denver heating and air systems.

Windows and Heat Efficiency
The best way to keep your home comfortable is to make sure that your heating system is running in as a closed circuit system. The envelope of your home is never perfectly sealed however, it is possible to gain efficiency using windows that move some of the heat into and out of your home. Use these tips as a guide to gaining more efficiency with your HVAC system.

During sunny winter days it is important to let sunlight come through your windows so that it will warm the rooms of your house without using any costly energy. Windows located on the South side of your home are the best for heating your home. Designing your home by putting larger windows on the South side of the house will decrease the amount of energy used by your heating system. Most areas outside of my town, Denver, have many more cloudy days than sunny days (that's right, Denver has more sunny days than Florida!). Heating and air conditioning Denver homes is sometimes a challenge due to the ever changing weather. During cloudy winter days it is important to close the curtains and shades of windows to keep the warmth provided by your heating system in the house. Your comfort level depends on having good thick curtains to help insulate your house. Your furnace or heating system will be more efficient, effective and last longer if your home's window coverings are used properly.

Effectively using the power of the sun to help lessen the wear on your heating system is called utilizing passive energy. If you are currently building a new home, or re-modeling an existing structure, remember to ask your builder how to best utilize passive solar energy to help elevate the pain of home heating bills.

How to Best Use a Fireplace
Fire places are a romantic and inexpensive way to heat your home however, they are not very efficient. Making a wood burning fireplace more efficient will not only keep your home at a more comfortable and stable temperature, it will help keep energy from leaking out of your house.

Fireplace grates are a good investment for people using a fireplace to heat their home. The fireplace grate is made up of C-shaped metal tubes that point into the center of a room. Cold air is drawn from the room into the ends of the tubes and then warmed and returned to the room from the higher ends of the tubes. Using a fireplace grate helps properly circulate the air in the room and makes your heating system more effective.

Furnace Filter Maintenance

Furnace Maintenance
A furnace keeps your home warm and your family comfortable and yet very few homeowners know much about these appliances. When should you replace furnace filters? Is there a way to tell when your furnace filter needs to be changed? Changing your furnace filter regularly is the most important regular maintenance you can do from your heating system. Avoiding filter changes will result in poor mechanic performance and an increase in energy use. The filter should be replaced every other month to maintain optimal performance. Although changing the filter that often may seem like overkill, or a wasted expense it is necessary and very inexpensive.

Furnace filters protects the furnace from dust and other airborne particles that build up over time to cause malfunctions. While the filter protects your heating system it is also working to keep dust and other allergens from the air that is being pumped into your home. The air quality of your home is dependent on a clean operational filter. If you are not comfortable making repairs or changing the furnace filter I recommend calling an HVAC specialist. If you are in the Denver area, I recommend Million Air Mechanical. They can be reached at www.millionairmechanical.com or 303-835-9355

How and When to Change a Furnace Filter

To change a furnace filter you'll need to locate the area in which the filter is located. It is typically between the main furnace structure and the ductwork. Most HVAC systems will have the filter panel labeled for easy access. Open the filter panel and remove the old filter. Make sure you have the correct size filter replacement. There are many different filter sizes but the most common are 16x20 20x20 and 16x25. Make sure you purchase the right replacement to save yourself an extra trip to the hardware store.

Installing your a new filter is pretty easy. As long as the filter is facing the right direction, you can't go wrong. You can either pay attention to the direction of the old filter when removing it, or look for arrows printed on the sides of your new filter indicating the direction the air will flow through it.

Some filters are re-usable. Although these reusable filters last for longer than disposable filter, they will not last forever and still require maintenance. Reusable filters should be washed once a month and HVAC experts at Million Air Mechanical recommend that you replace these filters after 6-12 months depending on the make and model. Reusable filters need to be thoroughly washed under running water until all the dirt and grim is removed. Regular cleaning on these filters have the same effect on the furnace mechanisms as changing disposable filters.