Cutting Heating Costs

Appropriate furnace care and smart purchases can help you decrease the high costs of heating your home. That’s excellent news considering that energy bills-which are already historically high-are anticipated to continue to climb up. In fact, a current post in USA Today reported that property owners on average will see a 25.7 percent increase in heating costs compared to a year back.

To reduce heating costs, professionals state that the energy effectiveness of your heater is extremely crucial. According to Jim Miller of Amana brand name heating systems, “Homeowners do not have much control over the rate of gas, however they can take actions to lessen the effect of house heating costs.” He provides these ideas:

“If you have not currently done so this year, have a licensed HVAC contractor examine your heater now,” Miller highlighted. “He can perform a security evaluation and clean your heating system so that it runs as efficiently as possible.”

A furnace’s performance is suggested by its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency percentage, or “AFUE,” a measurement established by the U.S. Department of Energy. The greater a heating system’s AFUE, the more efficient it is. “Furnaces older than 15 years operate at efficiencies of approximately 60% AFUE.

“If you were to change that 60% AFUE heating system with a high-efficiency unit, such as the Amana brand AMV9 96% AFUE Variable-Speed Furnace, you would get 96 cents worth of warmth for every single dollar you invest toward heating your house,” said Miller.

He added that furnaces with a variable-speed blower are even more efficient due to the fact that the blowers typically need as much as 75 percent less electricity than a standard motor. In addition, a heater’s blower also deals with the house’s cooling system, suggesting 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 furnaces with an AFUE of 95% or higher in 2006 and 2007 may qualify for a tax credit of $150. And if that heating system uses a variable-speed blower, they may receive an additional $50 tax credit.

Appropriate heater care and smart purchases can help you lower the high costs of heating your house. To decrease heating costs, professionals state that the energy effectiveness of your heater is exceptionally important. A heating system’s performance is indicated by its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency portion, or “AFUE,” a measurement established by the U.S. Department of Energy. Thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), house owners who purchase heating systems with an AFUE of 95% or higher in 2006 and 2007 might qualify for a tax credit of $150.