We don’t need to tell you that heating a house is expensive. Heating costs account for roughly 30% of the average residential utility bill, more than any other “system” in the house, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
While there are numerous ways to reduce these expenditures (such as installing a programmable thermostat or simply wearing a sweater instead of turning up the heat), one very practical step you can take is to install an efficient heating system in your home.
Even if upgrading involves an initial investment, you will save money in the long run because a more efficient heating system requires less energy to operate, resulting in lower heating bills. A newer unit will likely save you additional money due to older units often needing furnace repairs.
What Makes an Energy Efficiency Heating System?
Weather conditions have a direct impact on the efficiency of a heat pump. Heat pumps are a good choice. Significantly they are more efficient than furnaces in moderate climates. A new furnace is more efficient in really cold climates.
The system’s annual fuel utilization efficiency rating, or AFUE for short, is the most essential piece of information in general. This percentage rate indicates how much of the energy (typically in the form of electricity or natural gas furnaces) that the system consumes goes directly toward heating your home against how much goes to waste.
To put it another way, it tells you how much energy the system converts into usable heat.
Types of heating systems
Energy-Efficient Forced Air Furnace
Furnaces, in general, are the most energy-efficient heating solutions, especially if you have natural gas. They function by heating air with a heat exchanger and then forcing it into the residence through a duct system with the help of a fan (often referred to as a blower).
One of the most significant advantages of furnaces is their relative price, in addition to their high-efficiency ratings. Contact Marten’s today if you are looking to replace your furnace.
Heat Pump
A heat pump is a combined air conditioning and heating system (the fact that it is a dual purpose makes it efficient in its way). When it’s hot outside, the unit pulls air from inside your home, cools it with a refrigerant, and then pumps it back in as cool air. During the winter, it draws air from inside and heats it before returning it to your space to warm it up. Through the heat pump, no outdoor air is ever brought in. They do not emit exhaust gases that are harmful to the environment since they do not burn fossil fuels to generate heat.
Boiler
A boiler is a device that heats water in a tank and then pumps it through a series of pipes to individual radiators to warm your home. The heat is subsequently distributed across the various rooms and spaces by the radiators. Natural gas boilers are just as efficient as furnaces, if not more so (some have AFUE ratings of up to 100).
Geothermal Heat Pump
Geothermal heat pumps utilize the earth’s renewable heat to provide effective and efficient heating. In highly hot, humid conditions, geothermal heat pumps pay for themselves rapidly through lower energy expenses. Cold climates are the second-best climates.
Geothermal is not a cost-effective option in moderate regions with low demand for heating or cooling.
Mini Split Heat Pumps
Mini-split heat pumps, often known as ductless heat pumps, are air-source heat pumps. In contrast to geothermal systems, they extract heat from the air and put it back into it.
Another HVAC specialty that has recently enjoyed double-digit annual growth, overtaking traditional split systems in terms of market share.
In hot and humid conditions, mini-split heat pumps are the most cost-effective option. Newer devices may also operate in extremely cold temperatures without the use of an electric backup heater. However, heat pumps for cold climates are still rather costly.
Heating Tips:
- In the winter, set your programmable thermostat to the lowest setting that is comfortable for you, and decrease it when you’re sleeping or away from home.
- Filters on furnaces should be cleaned or replaced once a month or as needed – choose the right filter and put it in properly!
- Make sure clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators aren’t blocked by furniture, carpets, or draperies as needed.
- Once or twice a season, remove trapped air from hot-water radiators; if unsure how to do so, see an expert.
- Between the external walls and the radiators, place heat-resistant radiator reflectors.
- After cooking or bathing, turn off the kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes; when replacing exhaust fans, look for high-efficiency, low-noise ones.
- When purchasing new heating equipment, look for options that are energy efficient. To compare energy usage, your contractor should be able to provide you with energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs.