Archive for October, 2010

Your Furnace

Your furnace is one of the largest users of energy in your home. Therefore it makes sense to do anything that will keep those costs lower. One simple and effective way to keep your furnace running efficiently is to change the furnace filters often.

Both your air conditioning and your heating units have filters that allow air to pass through them. When these filters get clogged with dust and other stuff, the furnace has to work harder to get the air to go through your unit and therefore that costs money.

The harder it works the more energy it will use. In fact, if they are really clogged up, it can cause your furnace to overheat and cause other parts of the furnace to fail.

Filters are not a costly item. They cost just a few dollars and they are easy to replace. Yet, people just don’t take care of it as often as they should. I recommend you check your furnace filters at least quarterly.

There are several different types of filters you can buy. The standard type, are very inexpensive to purchase and are disposable. Some people dispose of these each month just as a regular routine.

There are also fairly expensive ones, allergen and small particle filters. You won’t want to dispose of these each month. Instead, put it up to the light and see if light can make it through, if not, then it is time to replace it. These may have to be replaced once every three to six months.

You may also have a self charging electrostatic filter. These filters are great but they still need your attention. You should clean them monthly by rinsing them from the clean side. These filters usually need to be replaced only every several years.

Another thing you should do for your furnace is to have it checked and cleaned each year by a professional. This will help improve the overall efficiency of the unit. Most heating and cooling experts say that having your furnace checked regularly can help you to save throughout the year.

Ceiling Fans

You can save a fair amount of money by using ceiling fans if they are used right. If you do not have one or more ceiling fans in your house you should consider adding them. Most of the time, they are not too costly, and can even be found quite inexpensively.

In the summer, use your ceiling fan in a counterclockwise direction. This will draw the cooler air from up from the floor and will keep air moving. Moving air feels cooler and therefore you will not need to use your air conditioning as much. This will allow you to keep the thermostat set higher and still feel comfortable. An air conditioning unit uses a lot more energy than a ceiling fan. So using a fan will save you money.

In the winter, you should use fans as well. Here though you want them to spin at their lowest setting and in reverse or clockwise. This will push the hot air that rises to the ceiling back down to where you are sitting or standing.

At the lowest setting, it won’t cause a breeze yet it will keep the furnace from having to go on as much thus saving you money.

There is no doubt that you may be thinking that these suggestions I am making are going to cost you some money. That is true and it will also take a little time on your part.
Yet, the benefits of doing these things are without question. There is no doubt that you can lower your energy costs by investing a little money in these projects.