Preparing Your Furnace For Winter

Cold weather is quickly approaching Southeast Wisconsin. Make sure you are ready when it’s time to heat your home.

Last March, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel quoted Brian Manthey, spokesman for WE Energies, that last year’s heating season would cost the typical customer $739 to heat their home. This was a 20% jump over last year. Average families are going to be hit hard by this increase.

These rising costs, along with unpredictable winters, make maintaining your current equipment, as well as considering energy-efficient models, something to take seriously when heating your home.

According to energy.gov, some things you can personally do to get your furnace ready for winter are:

Remove dirt, soot, and corrosion
Adjust the controls to provide optimum water and air temp settings for efficiency and comfort
Test for carbon monoxide
Clean and replace filters monthly
Check the condition of the vent connection pipe and chimney
Schedule annual cleaning
If your furnace doesn’t have a Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating above 90%, which measures a furnace’s overall energy performance, you may be in the market for a new, energy-efficient model.

An AFUE above 90% means that more than 90% of the furnace’s energy goes to the heating process and is not lost elsewhere. The less energy you lose, the more money you save.

To keep up-to-date with the best in energy-efficient furnaces, refer to energystar.gov for a great list of the most-efficient furnaces at the moment.

Along with winterizing your furnace and learning more about energy efficient furnaces, consider adding a programmable thermostat if you do not already have one. They are easy to use and let you control the temperature around your daily routine, as well as customize it when you are away for long periods. Why pay for heat that you aren’t using? Plus, they also save money when you’re cooling your home in the summer months.

Finally, if you have any questions, concerns, or problems, contact Arrow HVAC. We are community-owned and operated, professionally-trained, and offer the best possible heating solutions for harsh Wisconsin winters.