Maintain Your Heating System

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Quick Facts Affordability Cost Savings CO2 Reduction		Tune up your heating equipment and continue to give it regular maintenance in order to increase its energy efficiency, cost effectiveness and the comfort it provides. Affordability Depending on the state of your heating system, keeping it well-maintained and making energy-efficient upgrades could save you the expense of wasted energy and the cost of new equipment. Cost savings Annual (or biannual) servicing can prolong the life of your heating system. Regular maintenance will keep it functioning efficiently and save the cost of having to replace the system. Health & comfort In addition to making a heating system more efficient, sealed and insulated ducts also help eliminate condensation problems in humid areas. Some people find that cleaning ducts, warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators reduces allergies from dust and mold. Ensure grills, baseboard heaters and radiators are not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes. Limited air circulation decreases their efficiency and can be a fire hazard. Environmental considerations Regular cleaning and maintenance of your equipment can make it last longer, reducing the manufacture and disposal needs of new equipment.

What you need to know

• Sealing your heating ducts can be an effective way to improve your existing heat system. If you have a home energy audit, the auditor will do a blower door test to assess the air leakage from your duct system. Do not allow anyone other than a trained professional to conduct this test in your home.
• Common leakage sites include: spaces around air registers and grilles, duct connections, floor joists and the heating or air conditioning unit itself. Without a blower test, you can look for visible leaks and loose joints. Clean the surface before you seal them with duct mastic or foil tape.
• Once your ducts are sealed, insulate them for even greater energy savings and comfort. Most duct insulation is fiberglass, made into flexible sheets coated with vinyl or foil to reduce moisture issues. Install it with the vinyl or foil backing facing outward.
• A dirty furnace delivers less air. Keep yours cleaned and get it tuned up regularly.
• One quick, effective and generally inexpensive improvement is to change your furnace filter. Clogged filters reduce airflow, forcing your furnace to work harder. Severe clogging or blockages over extended periods will cause premature wear to your system. Most disposable furnace filters should be replaced once a month. Some of the more expensive disposable filters can be left in longer, but check them monthly to ensure that light can still pass through. Even so, replace them at least every three months. There are also washable, self-charging electrostatic filters that filter out very tiny particles. These can last for a few years, but should be washed at least monthly.
• Avoid heating uninsulated spaces such as a garage, crawlspace, attic or storage shed.
• Close the fireplace chimney damper between fires to keep warm air in during the winter and out during the summer. See our Ensure Your Fireplace is Efficient tip for more information.
• Using a ceiling fan can take some pressure of your heating system. Ceiling fans can affect indoor air temperature by up to 10% year round. For more information, read Install a Ceiling Fan in our Home Cooling Guide.
• Check out the Heating and Cooling Buyer's Guide for more information.

FAQ

Does having clean furnace ducts relieve allergies?
Some people feel it does, while others don't notice much of a difference. It may depend on what you are allergic to. Clean ducts certainly won't make them worse. The only way to know if it will work for you is to try it.

Will plastic air deflectors help improve my home heating?
No. Plastic air deflectors are not normally beneficial to heating. They cause drafts and can cause ice to form on windows. Registers are placed below windows to allow the heat to rise and insulate the window with warm air. When this does not happen the air that is in contact with the cool window will drop to the floor forming drafts that will make the room less comfortable.