How to Choose the Most Efficient Heating System for Your Home

How to Choose the Most Efficient Heating System for Your Home

Home heating accounts for up to 50 percent of your wintertime energy usage. By choosing efficient equipment and maintaining your heating system, you can lower those costs and put money back into your pockets. Choosing an efficient heating system for your home requires a little research but the time invested is well worthwhile.

Energy Star

The U.S. Department of Energy offers an Energy Star rating program. This program rates heating systems and other appliances based on their efficiency. If you choose a furnace or heat pump with the Energy Star rating, it will be up to 50 percent more efficient than a product without the Energy Star seal.

Heating System Maintenance

Even if you choose the most efficient heating equipment on the market, failure to maintain it will yield a much lower system efficiency. Heating system maintenance is essential to performance as well as your health and safety. Once each year, the heating equipment should be serviced by a licensed and insured technician, like those at HELP Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric. A maintenance visit should include inspecting the heating elements, burners, combustion chamber, blower, motor, fan and thermostat. The technician will check the system's performance, clean and lubricate the motor and check for carbon monoxide leaks. The system's air filter also needs to be replaced every three months.

AFUE Ratings

Gas and oil furnaces and boilers use AFUE, or annual fuel utilization efficiency, ratings. The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the system is at converting the oil, propane or natural gas into heat for your home. Today's newest heating systems offer up to 98 percent AFUE. Although your initial investment will be a little higher, the price difference will pay off due to your wintertime heating bill savings. The manufacturer's label provides the AFUE rating.

Heat Pumps

In moderate environments, a heat pump is more efficient than a gas or electric furnace. They transfer heat from a warmer environment to a cooler one with the use of the environmentally-friendly refrigerant R-410A. In the winter, the heat pump moves heat from the outdoors into your home. Heat pumps can be air-source or ground-source. If you choose a ground-source, or geothermal heat pump, there are federal tax rebates available to boost your savings even more.

An efficient home heating system saves your money and helps to keep you more comfortable during the cold winter. Choosing a system with high efficiency also helps to protect the environment. No matter which system you select, be sure to properly maintain it.

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