10 Energy Saving Tips to Heat Your Home Most Efficiently

Posted on by

Heating and cooling amount to 47% of the energy costs in your home. Improve your home with this list of energy saving tips to heat your home most efficiently this Winter, and simultaneously prep your home to keep cool air in this upcoming Summer.

  1. Stop Drafts From Electrical Sockets. Oftentimes, the insulation around and behind your electrical sockets is not placed properly, creating drafts through the electrical sockets in your exterior walls. Stop letting air in through and around your sockets by removing the cover plate, and filling in small gaps with acrylic latex caulking, or foam sealant for bigger gaps.
  2. Replace Worn Weatherstripping. Worn and torn weatherstripping allow warm air to escape through the cracks. Proper sealing and insulation can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs, or up to 10% on your total annual energy bill,” according to Katie Cody, Lowe’s Spokeswoman.  “Air leaks from windows and doors are easy to find by moving your hand around the frame. Applying weather stripping and caulk to these areas will help cut down on drafts.”121458_R_Z001
  3. Insulate your Water Heater. Wrap your hot water tank in a cozy 80 mm jacket. Water heater insulation blankets can cut heat loss by 75 %, and you’ll recoup the cost of it in less than 6 months! Also, turning down the temperature of the water heater to the “warm” setting (120 degrees F) to keep water warm, but not scolding, to save energy in the meantime.
  4. Get your Furnace inspected annually. Annual furnace or boiler inspects ensure that your systems are functioning properly. If your Furnace isn’t functioning properly and for example, your filters weren’t cleaned or replaced right and theres a blockage in your ventilation, then your heating system will have to work harder all winter, and your home could be filled with air that isn’t filtered properly as well. Make sure your system is in proper working order by getting your furnace inspected every year.
  5. Get a Humidifier for Your Home. Low humidity often makes us feel more cold than you would with the proper amount of humidity, causing you to turn up the thermostat. Get a humidifier and spend less on heat bills this cold season.
  6. Insulate your Doors. Stop energy loss from poor door insulation. Fit draught excluders or sealant strips around all exterior doors, and interior if needs be. Sealant strips can be bought cheaply from DIY stores and are very easy to fit – just like applying sticky tape. Don’t forget to get a brush trim for letter boxes, bigger gaps and the bottom of doors.The Vent in the Home Wall. Air Condition Vent
  7. Invest in a Programmable Thermostat. The programming power allows you to set when your heat kicks on and off, making it so you
    can turn off your heating at night or when you leave the house, and set it to turn back on only 30 minutes before you get home.
  8. Close your Vents. Close the vents to any unused rooms during winter so you aren’t heating rooms your not in.
  9. Insulate your Windows. Insulate your drafty windows with a Window Insulator Kit. Help keep warm air in through wrapping your windows with heat shrink window film.
  10. Get a Storm Door. Reduce your homes energy loss up to 50 percent by purchasing a storm door made with low-emissivity glass or coating.

When Should You Replace Your Boiler or Furnace?

Posted on by

Why is it so important to make certain that your home heat system is working efficiently?

For starters, if your home runs on oil or gas, the Energy Saving Trust believes it is responsible for 50% of your energy bills. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2009, the average PA home spent approximately 1,250 dollars annually on oil and gas in the home. The cost of your heat depends largely on the efficiency of your boiler or furnace. That is why it is important to replace your heating system when it is outdated, or not working properly.

In Western Pennsylvania, we use our heat about 5-7 months out of the year. And given the limited amount of sun we get in the Pittsburgh area, it’s probable that we use heat closer to 7 months of the year. Do you want to run a system the majority of the year that wastes gas or oil and raises your energy bills? We think not!
When to Replace your Boiler

*Tip: Ensure the longest lifespan for your heating system by keeping it maintained. Get your boiler or furnace serviced annually to make sure it is safe, and repair problems before they become too expensive to fix.

Find out if your boiler needs to be replaced by determining how efficient it is.

Every boiler and furnace has a rating associated with it. This rating is based on its energy efficiency or annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). Both the age and type of heat system you have affects how efficient it is. However, AFUE percentages are hypothetical numbers based on calculations. Read below for a simple way to find out if your boiler or furnace has a low, middle, or high efficiency rating based on how it functions, and the components it has.

Low-efficiency heating systems:

  • Natural draft that creates a flow of combustion gases
  • Continuous pilot light
  • Heavy heat exchanger

These systems tend to be older, as some of these functions, like the continuous pilot light, are no longer allowed in modern boilers. On average, these systems have between a 56% to 70% AFUE rating.

Mid-efficiency heating systems:

  • Exhaust fan controls the flow of combustion air and combustion gases more precisely
  • Electronic ignition (no pilot light)
  • Compact size and lighter weight to reduce cycling losses
  • Small-diameter flue pipe

In general, these systems have between a 80% to 83% AFUE rating.

High-efficiency heating systems:

  • Condensing flue gases in a second heat exchanger for extra efficiency
  • Sealed combustion
  • Temperature control devices

High-efficiency heating systems with the above components usually have between a 90% to 98.5% AFUE rating. Temperature control devices make it so you can be exact with how and when you heat every area in your home.