Maintain Your Heating System

Quick Facts Affordability Cost Savings CO2 Reduction		Tuning up the equipment you have and giving it regular maintenance can go a long way to increasing the comfort, cost effectiveness and energy efficiency of your home heating.  Affordability Depending on the state of your heating system, keeping it well-maintained and making energy-efficient upgrades could save you the expense of inefficient energy use and the cost of new equipment. An energy audit is a great way to find out how well your equipment is holding up and ways to keep it running efficiently for longer. Cost savings Ducts that are sealed and insulated can cut heating costs significantly. Health & comfort 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. This reduces their efficiency and can be a fire hazard. Environmental considerations In addition to increasing efficiency, regular cleaning and maintenance on your equipment can make it last longer, reducing the need for equipment manufacture and disposal.

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: 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.

FAQ

Do clean furnace ducts relieve allergies?
Some people feel they do, 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 for sure 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 uncomfortable.