If you’ve upgraded to an energy efficient furnace, you know the next few months are when it’s going to start paying for itself. These innovative HVAC systems can help decrease the amount of energy or gas used to heat your home compared to older and less efficient models. With winter creeping upon us here in the Bay Area, we’ve prepared some helpful steps you can take to ensure your furnace will run efficiently and effectively all season.
1. Schedule a regular maintenance visit before winter weather arrives.
The last thing you want is to turn on your furnace on the first cold day in the Bay Area only to find out it’s not operating properly. It’s important to have a professional inspect your furnace, as these individuals have been trained and certified to ensure your HVAC system is safe and working correctly. Regularly maintaining your equipment will not only help the product operate smoothly, but it will help enhance the energy efficiency of your furnace, as well.
2. Check your heat exchanger.
Cracked or improperly functioning heat exchangers mix combustion gases with your home’s air, which could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Simply check your furnace’s combustion chamber for cracks. If you notice strange odors coming from the heater after a while, shut it off and call a professional. Your heat exchanger is an important component of creating an energy efficient furnace. When it’s working properly, the equipment doesn’t have to work as hard or use as much energy to generate the heat you desire.
3. Change your air filter.
If you haven’t changed your filter in a while, now’s the time. Clean filters can help improve your equipment’s air flow and may lead to better energy efficiency, as well. Pleated, HEPA and electrostatic filters can also help improve the furnace’s energy efficiency, so consider upgrading if you’re currently using a flat filter. We recommend checking your filter once a month to see whether it needs to be changed.
Try these steps to create a more energy efficient home this season. Or, if you’re due for a repair, Contra Costa Heating & AC offers a number of energy efficient furnaces. We’re happy to help you choose the latest and greatest HVAC systems available in the Bay Area.