Three Steps for Preparing Your Energy Efficient Furnace for Winter

November 04, 2014

If you’ve upgraded to an energy efficient furnace, you know the winter months are when it’s going to start paying for itself. These inventive HVAC systems can help decrease the amount of energy or gas required to heat your home compared to older and less efficient models. With winter creeping upon us here in Georgetown, we’ve prepared some helpful steps you can take to ensure your furnace will run efficiently and effectively all season.

1. Schedule a routine maintenance visit before winter weather arrives.

You don’t want to turn on your furnace on the first cold day in Georgetown only to find out it’s not working properly. It’s important to have a professional inspect your equipment, as these individuals have been trained and certified to ensure your HVAC products are safe and working correctly. Regularly maintaining your equipment will not only help the furnace operate smoothly, but it will help improve the energy efficiency of your furnace, as well.

2. Check your heat exchanger.

Broken 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 period of time, shut it off and call a professional. Your heat exchanger is an important factor in creating an energy efficient furnace. When it functions properly, the equipment doesn’t have to work as hard or use as much energy to produce the heat you desire.

3. Change your air filter.

When’s the last time you changed your filter? Now is the time. Clean filters may help improve your equipment’s air flow and could lead to better energy efficiency, as well. Pleated, HEPA and electrostatic filters can also help increase the furnace’s energy efficiency, so consider upgrading if you’re currently using a flat filter. We recommend checking your filter monthly to see whether it needs to be changed.

Try these steps to create a more energy efficient home this winter. Or, if you’re in need of a repair, Miller Climate Control LLC offers a number of energy efficient furnaces. We’re happy to help you choose the latest and greatest HVAC systems available in Georgetown.