If you’ve upgraded to an energy efficient furnace, you know the winter months are when it’s going to really pay off. These inventive HVAC systems can help reduce the amount of energy or gas needed to heat your home compared to older and less efficient models. With winter drawing nearer here in West Jefferson, we’ve prepared some helpful steps you can take to ensure your furnace will run efficiently and effectively until warm weather arrives again.
1. Schedule a regular maintenance visit before winter weather arrives.
The last thing you want is to turn on your furnace on the first cold day in West Jefferson only to realize it’s not operating properly. It’s important to have a HVAC technician inspect your system, as these individuals have been trained and certified to ensure your HVAC equipment is safe and working correctly. Keeping your equipment regularly maintained will not only help the product operate smoothly, but it will help increase the energy efficiency of your furnace, as well.
2. Check your heat exchanger.
Cracked or improperly functioning heat exchangers mix combustion gases with the air in your home. This leads to safety concerns with carbon monoxide poisoning. Simply inspect your furnace’s combustion chamber for cracks. If you detect strange odors coming from the heater after a while, shut it off and call a professional. Your heat exchanger is an important part of creating an energy efficient furnace. When it’s operating correctly, the equipment doesn’t have to work as hard or use as much energy to provide your family with the heat you desire.
3. Change your air filter.
If you haven’t changed your filter in a while, now’s the time. Clean filters can help improve your furnace’s air flow and could lead to better energy efficiency, as well. Pleated, HEPA and electrostatic filters can also help enhance the furnace’s energy efficiency, so consider upgrading if you’re currently using a flat filter. We recommend checking your filter at the end of each month to see whether it needs to be changed.
Follow these steps to create a more energy efficient home this winter season. Or, if you’re ready for a repair, West Jefferson Plumbing and Heating, Inc. offers a number of energy efficient furnaces. We’re happy to help you find the latest and greatest HVAC systems available in West Jefferson.