Canadian winters can take a toll on your pocketbook when temperatures fall below freezing. Every Canadian knows the familiar hum of the furnace running constantly in the winter, especially during a deep freeze. Fortunately, taking good care of your furnace can keep your energy bills under control. Here are some things you can do to keep your furnace in great shape and your house comfortable during the winter months.
Clean Your Furnace Regularly
When the furnace is idle during the late spring to early fall seasons, dirt, dust, and debris can collect on the registers, motor, and other parts. Then, when it’s turned on to use in the wintertime, the accumulation can force the furnace to work harder to heat your home.
A hardworking furnace expends more energy, which will be reflected on your heating bill. Keep the furnace clean by brushing or vacuuming it throughout the summer to prevent it from accumulating dust and dirt. Be sure to change the filters every few months as well, for improved efficiency and cost-savings.
You should have it cleaned and inspected professionally every year by a technician at furnace-repair-calgary.ca before turning it on for the winter.
Replace the Thermostat
If the thermostat is an older, manual model, consider replacing it with a programmable one. On average, you can save about 10% on your heating bill by lowering the temperature when no one is home. When the workday is over, you can turn up the temperature to keep everyone warm.
With a programmable thermostat, you won’t need to concern yourself with turning the temperature up or down every day. It can be programmed to run at a lower temperature during the day and a higher one when everyone is home from work and school. Many smart thermostats are available now as well, which allows you to control the temperature from an app on your phone.
Replace Your Furnace
Don’t wait until your furnace goes out in the middle of winter to replace it. If it needs frequent repairs and makes noises when it is running, then it may be time to buy a new model. But don’t wait until a disaster happens to replace it.
Replace it with a new, energy efficient model if your current furnace is between 15 to 30 years old. The AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilisation Efficacy) is around 60% for most older furnace models. In comparison, new furnaces rate between 90 to 98%, which means significant savings for you.
Buy the Correct Size
The size of your home plays a significant role in which furnace to buy. If the unit is too small, it will struggle to keep your home comfortable, need more frequent repairs or run up your heating bill because it continuously switches on to heat your house.
If the furnace is too big, it can feel too hot when it’s on, or it may not switch on, leaving your house too cold during cooler weather. Measuring the square footage of your house and its layout can help you to buy the right sized unit.
Have a salesperson come out to get measurements for you and show you their selection of furnace models from which to choose for your home.
While some solutions to a problematic furnace are not solved cheaply, others are not expensive to implement. Taking the time to maintain your furnace can prevent the hassle of replacing your furnace in the winter when you need it most.
You can also save a significant amount of money by spending a few hours in the spring and summer taking care of your furnace to keep it in good shape over time.
