Cooperative Living September 2014 - 28
WI$E ENERGY U$E by James Dulley, Contributing Columnist
MAINTAIN YOUR
HOME'S HEATING
SYSTEM EFFICIENCY
Q.
A.
I want to keep
my utility bills as
low as possible.
With the heating season
soon upon us, what can I
do myself to keep my heating
system running at its
maximum efficiency and
heat output? ―Bob J.
Heating and cooling a home
contribute to the majority of utility
bills for most families. Water heating
usually is the second-largest energy consumer,
typically accounting for about 20 percent
of the utility bill. Doing a simple heating
system tune-up yourself improves its efficiency,
resulting in significant annual cost savings.
Since central air-conditioning uses the same
air handler (blower and ducts) as the heating
system, maintaining your heating system for
winter often also reduces cooling costs during
summer.
Unless your furnace is actually malfunctioning
in a significant way or making strange noises,
you generally cannot tell if it is operating at
peak efficiency. One way to tell is to compare
your current utility bills to previous years' bills.
Make sure to compare the actual amount of
energy used (KWH, gallons of oil, cubic feet of
gas, etc.), not just the dollar amounts of the
bills. Adjust the amounts accordingly for the
severity of the weather measured in heating
degree days for each comparison year
(www.degreedays.net).
Doing a simple heating system
tune-up yourself improves its
efficiency, resulting in significant
annual cost savings.
26
Don't skip your regular scheduled professional
maintenance calls just because you have
done your own heating system mini-tune-up.
There are many areas within a heating system
that only a qualified technician can evaluate
and adjust properly. A rule of thumb when
doing your own tune-up is, if you are not
absolutely sure what a part or adjustment
screw does, don't touch it.
The first items to check are for safety. With
a gas or propane furnace, put several drops of
soapy water on any gas-line fittings you find. If
the water bubbles at all, there is a leak. Leave
your house immediately and call your gas company
to have it repaired. With a heat pump,
check to make sure the insulation on all of the
external wiring looks correct. You can inspect
potential bad spots - damaged or frayed areas
- more carefully once you turn the
circuit breaker off.
Cooperative Living/September 2014
PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMES DULLEY
http://www.degreedays.net
Cooperative Living September 2014
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living September 2014
Cooperative Living September 2014 - 1
Cooperative Living September 2014 - 2
Cooperative Living September 2014 - 3
Cooperative Living September 2014 - 4
Cooperative Living September 2014 - 5
Cooperative Living September 2014 - 6
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