As winter brings colder weather to Clinton, MS, you rely on your furnace more. As such, you’ll want to stop and think about how efficiently it’s running. Furnaces come with an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratio, and the higher this goes, the better. Here are some small tweaks that will keep the AFUE at 80% or higher, minimize heating expenses and lengthen the furnace’s lifespan.
Ensure Good Airflow
The fewer obstacles to airflow, the less strain you put on the furnace. To improve airflow, you can do four things:
- Replace the filters on a regular basis.
- Clean the registers.
- Prevent any furniture from blocking them.
- Request a professional duct cleaning.
Regarding the filter, avoid the common mistake of buying something with too high of a MERV rating (a measurement of how well a filter can trap the smallest particles). Filters with too high of a MERV rating are expensive and offer greater resistance, wearing out the furnace faster.
Clean the Furnace
Over time, furnaces build up dirt and debris. You don’t want these to cover certain components like the blower motor and heat exchanger; it’ll result in lukewarm air, longer cycles and higher bills. Vacuuming the outside of the furnace doesn’t take much skill or time.
Adjust the Thermostat
You don’t need to set your thermostat any higher than 70 degrees; a setting in the high 60s will provide enough comfort for most people throughout a winter day. Malfunctioning thermostats can be to blame for inefficient performance, in which case you could request heating repair. Lastly, consider programming the thermostat so that the furnace never turns on when no one is home.
Contact us at Modern Air to schedule furnace maintenance and optimize your heating system this winter. Our family-owned company will care for your heating system like it’s ours.
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