Help Reduce the Load on Your Furnace

If you’re not familiar with the term “load,” it simply means the amount of energy your HVAC system uses to keep your home at your chosen temperature setting. By reducing the load on your furnace, you can reap some significant benefits.

• Better overall efficiency — Improving your home’s energy efficiency brings year-round savings on your HVAC operating costs.
• Fewer repair bills — A reduced load puts less wear on your HVAC equipment, so you’re less vulnerable to costly and inconvenient breakdowns.
• Prolonged lifespan — Since there’s less strain on the equipment, you can expect it to last longer.
• Future savings on equipment — When an HVAC professional calculates the required capacity for new equipment, you may find that a smaller, less costly unit can handle the load.
• Greater comfort — The measures you take to reduce the furnace’s workload also make it easier to keep your home comfortable.

How to Reduce Your Heating Load

There are a number of steps you can take to lessen the load on your furnace:

• Add more insulation — According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes in the Hudson Valley should have R-49 to R-60 installed between the attic floor joists to curb energy losses through the ceilings.
• Air seal the attic — Seal leaks between the attic and the living space below using expandable foam insulation. Common trouble spots are found around plumbing vents, HVAC ductwork, electrical wires, light fixtures, the flue and attic hatch.
• Seal and insulate the ducts — Ductwork in unfinished areas is often difficult to access, so consider hiring a professional to inspect and address any deficiencies. A technician can fix any disconnected sections, seal the joins and seams with metal-backed tape or mastic and then install R-8 insulation wrap.

• Tighten up the exterior envelope — Seal cracks, gaps and holes causing energy losses using expandable foam insulation, caulk or weatherstripping. Check for leaks where different building materials meet, around windows, doors, and wherever plumbing pipes, electrical wiring and exhaust vents penetrate the shell.

To learn more ways to reduce the load on the furnace in your Middletown home, contact us at C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace load and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 845-367-4482.

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