You may not be sure about the efficiency of your heating system since you probably don’t have any technical instruments to measure the efficiency. However, there are some considerations which may offer you the advice you need to look at a new system. Some of these are problems may not be readily identifiable, but they cause a drop in efficiency nonetheless. They are:
- The heat pump is more than 10 years old.
- The furnace or boiler has more than 15 years on it.
- Repair frequency is high.
- The cost of energy you consume is increasing with no explainable reason.
- A repair is out of the question you are facing an expensive furnace or heat pump part replacement.
- You sense the comfort level in your house could be better.
- There are indications an improvement in your indoor air quality is needed.
- You sense an odor coming from the furnace which may be a gas leak or carbon monoxide. This should be looked at immediately.
- There is an uneven heat distribution throughout the house.
If any of the above are true in your case, you should consider a new furnace. The new high efficiency heating systems installed today run quieter and much more efficient, while using less energy. The Energy Star rated furnaces are a real benefit to the environment and the family budget. Companies specializing in Heating in Lake Oswego are a good source of advice when looking at new heating systems.
The U. S. Government Department of Energy states the world’s most efficient gas furnace has a 96.7 percent Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating, which exceeds the minimum AFUE rating for furnaces by nearly 20 percent. The AFUE rating explains the efficiency of gas furnaces. A higher rating indicates more efficient equipment. Contractors who fix Heating in Lake Oswego can more fully explain this rating system.
Installing a programmable thermostat can save up to 10 percent of your energy bills according to the Alliance to Save Energy. These thermostats are easy to use and they the energy savings is real. Companies who specialize in Heating in Lake Oswego can be a good source for recommending a comfort engineer to come to your home and review its construction, insulation, the way it sits on the lot, the trees around it and amount of glass. This will help formulate a furnace design which will accommodate your needs without overdoing the heating of your home.
