Getting
Ready for Winter  It’s
official: winter is almost upon us. Cut down on utility
bills and make your home more efficient this winter
by making preparations now.
With the approach of Thanksgiving comes
the approach of winter. With energy costs on the rise
and the possibility of a tougher winter, a Realty Times
article helps you make your home more efficient, thereby
reducing energy costs.
One basic item to check off your list
is tightening up your house. Make sure all doors and
windows seal well to keep out cold air and drafts. Also,
adding insulation to crawl spaces, attics and water
heaters will cut heating costs. Some of these items
will also help you reduce air conditioning bills in
the summer!
Possibly the biggest thing to worry
about this winter is your furnace. How well has it performed
in past winters? If you use electric resistance heat,
higher electricity costs may make it a good idea to
switch to a more affordable gas or oil furnace. If you
already use a gas or oil furnace, look at its age and
condition to determine whether it’s still on top
of its game. If your furnace or boiler is old, worn-out,
inefficient or producing more BTUs per hour than you
use, you just need to switch to a modern, high-efficiency
appliance. A typical heating system lasts about 25 years,
but some boilers can last twice that long.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient
Economy measures efficiency of new furnaces by seasonal
performance, or annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE).
Many old furnaces with pilot lights have estimated AFUE
ratings of 55 percent to 65 percent, while furnaces
that qualify for the Energy Star program have an AFUE
of 90 percent or higher. Imagine how much that difference
will save you in energy costs!
Most new gas furnaces are in two classes,
power combustion, which runs at about 80 percent to
82 percent AFUE, and “condensing” furnaces,
which are the appliances that run at about 90 percent
AFUE. The Council recommends the latter type, unless
you live in a warm climate. These furnaces are less
likely to suffer from corrosion caused by condensation
in the unit or flue and chimney. Condensing furnaces
typically issue exhaust through a plastic pipe that
runs through a side wall.
Although energy efficient furnaces
and boilers will save you a bundle on energy costs,
they will still have to work hard to keep your home
warm if you have drafts or un-insulated areas. Energy
efficiency requires a whole-house approach, and there
is no time better than now to implement it!
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