If you have an energy efficient furnace, you know the next few months are when it’s going to show its return on investement. These innovative HVAC systems can help reduce the amount of energy or gas used to heat your home compared to older and less efficient models. With winter creeping upon us here in Arlington, we’ve prepared some essential 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 Arlington only to discover it’s not operating properly. It’s important to have a HVAC professional inspect your equipment, as these individuals have been trained and certified to ensure your HVAC equipment is safe and working well. Regularly maintaining your equipment will not only help the equipment operate smoothly, but it will help enhance the energy efficiency of your furnace, as well.
2. Check your heat exchanger.
Broken or improperly functioning heat exchangers mix combustion gases with the air in your home. This leads to safety concerns with carbon monoxide poisoning. This inspection is easy – just inspect your furnace’s combustion chamber for cracks. If you smell strange odors coming from the heater after a period of time, shut it off and call a professional. Your heat exchanger is an important part of creating an energy efficient furnace. When it’s working properly, 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.
It’s a good idea to change your filters regularly, and just before winter hits is a great time. Clean filters can help improve your equipment’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 once a month to see whether it needs to be changed.
Use these steps to create a more energy efficient home this winter season. Or, if you’re ready for a repair, Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning offers a number of energy efficient furnaces. We’re happy to help you find the latest and greatest HVAC systems available in Arlington.