Why an Efficient Furnace Performs at Its Peak in an Efficient Home

High heating bills and harsher winters are causing many homeowners to invest in more efficient HVAC systems. Though an efficient furnace is almost always a great investment, many people find that their bills don’t decrease as much as expected after the new heating system is installed. This is often due to the fact that even an efficient furnace can be prone to overworking and wasting energy if it’s heating a home that isn’t very efficient. Fortunately, many things can be done to improve the energy efficiency of a house, and any improvements should help reduce your heating bills, as well as lessen in cooling costs once warmer weather arrives.

The first step in making your home more efficient should be air sealing. Heat loss is often a major cause of high heating bills, and it can overwork your furnace, leading to increased and more frequent needs for maintenance and repairs. Take a thorough look around your home to check for gaps or cracks near doors, electrical outlets, windows and floorboards. Any air leaks you find should be sealed immediately with spray foam or caulk. If you don’t feel comfortable looking for signs of heat loss yourself, or feel like you may be missing something, try to schedule an energy evaluation soon in order to have an expert check the house for inefficiencies.

Another key factor in increasing your home’s heating efficiency is making sure your HVAC system gets regular maintenance. Be sure to change your furnace’s filter at least every three months, or more often if you have air quality concerns. Get in the habit of checking it monthly. A clogged air filter can cause your heating or cooling equipment to work too hard. Also, even the most efficient furnace can develop small problems occasionally, and will work better with routine tune-ups. Schedule yearly check-ups for your heating system to keep things running smoothly.

Contact Paschal Heat, Air, & Geothermal today for more expert advice on efficient furnaces and increasing efficiency in your northwest Arkansas home. Our company has served the area for more than 40 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about efficient furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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