A warm, toasty home is an essential part of winter, and the workload rests on your furnace. Because of this, you should avoid placing additional stress on your HVAC system so that you don’t wear down components and raise your utility bill. To ensure that you get the most comfortable home for the best price, below are a few strategies to boost the efficiency of your system.

How Can You Increase Furnace Efficiency?

1. Change Fan Setting

While you may think that the ceiling fans are only useful in cooling your home, you can switch the direction that they spin to help with heating. Look for a button on the base of the fan that reverses it, allowing the blades to rotate clockwise. This will draw the cool air toward the ceiling, forcing the warm air downward and into the room. 

Circulating warm air keeps your home comfortable, so you won’t have to run your furnace as frequently. This will reduce energy waste and lower your home’s carbon footprint.

2. Replace Dirty Filters

The air filters in your furnace prevent debris from circulating throughout the home. Over time, contaminants will clog these screens and restrict the airflow, causing your furnace to run longer and at a higher speed. This stresses the mechanical parts and wastes electricity, increasing your utility bill.

To prevent this issue, replace your HVAC filter every two months. If you have a large family or pets running around the home, you may need to do this every month, as the filter will clog quicker.

3. Use Insulated Curtains

The sun provides a natural source of warmth, and you should utilize it whenever possible. Open the curtains during the day, and close them at night to lock heat inside. Thick, insulated drapes will keep heat from leaking out, so you won’t need to run your furnace as often while sleeping. This allows you to set your thermostat lower throughout the season, saving you considerably on monthly utility bills.

 

If you need help maintaining your furnace this winter, contact the HVAC technicians at Butler Heating & Air in West Plains, MO. For 20 years, they have been providing furnace repairs and installations, HVAC maintenance, and more to residential and commercial customers throughout the area. Call (417) 256-7984 to schedule a heating inspection, and visit the website to learn about their services. Follow them on Facebook for more HVAC tips.