Cutting Heating Costs

Appropriate heater care and clever purchases can help you lower the high costs of heating your house. That’s good news considering that energy bills-which are currently historically high-are expected to continue to climb. A current article in USA Today reported that house owners on average will see a 25.7 percent increase in heating costs compared to a year earlier.

To lower heating expenses, specialists say that the energy effectiveness of your heating system is extremely essential. According to Jim Miller of Amana brand name furnaces, “Homeowners do not have much control over the price of gas, however they can take steps to minimize the impact of home heating expenses.” He provides these pointers:

1. Have Your Furnace Checked. “If you have not currently done so this year, have a licensed HVAC contractor inspect your heater now,” Miller highlighted. “He can perform a security inspection and clean your heating system so that it runs as effectively as possible.”

2. When Buying a New Furnace, Choose High-Efficiency. A furnace’s efficiency is shown by its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency portion, or “AFUE,” a measurement established by the U.S. Department of Energy. The greater a furnace’s AFUE, the more effective it is. “Furnaces older than 15 years run at performances of approximately 60% AFUE. This implies that for every single dollar spent on heating expenses, only 60 cents actually helps warm your home, while the remaining 40 cents is wasted.

“If you were to change that 60% AFUE heater with a high-efficiency unit, such as the Amana brand AMV9 96% AFUE Variable-Speed Furnace, you would get 96 cents worth of heat for every single dollar you spend towards heating your home,” stated Miller.

He included that heating systems with a variable-speed blower are a lot more effective since the blowers normally need up to 75 percent less electricity than a basic motor. In addition, a heater’s blower likewise deals with the house’s cooling system, indicating consumers experience increased performance year-round.

3. Examine Tax Credits for High-Efficiency Furnace Purchases. Thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), house owners who acquire heaters with an AFUE of 95% or greater in 2006 and 2007 may qualify for a tax credit of $150. And if that heating system uses a variable-speed blower, they might get approved for an additional $50 tax credit.

Appropriate heater care and wise purchases can assist you minimize the high expenses of heating your home. To reduce heating expenses, experts say that the energy effectiveness of your heating system is incredibly important. A heater’s efficiency is suggested by its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency portion, or “AFUE,” a measurement developed by the U.S. Department of Energy. Thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), homeowners who acquire furnaces with an AFUE of 95% or greater in 2006 and 2007 may certify for a tax credit of $150.