With all the myths and misconceptions associated with furnace care, maintenance and efficiency methods aimed at saving money, we at Newark-Heath Heating & Cooling decided to do some myth-busting this week to dispel the top three myths we come across when it comes to home heating systems.
The following is our top 3 Furnace Mythbuster tips:
Myth #1: Newer Homes Are More Energy Efficient Than Older Homes
Although it’s true that newer homes are built with energy efficiency standards, it’s not true that these homes are more efficient, as builders overlook things from time to time and older homes are usually more “winterized” by the people living in them. Prime examples of this include insulation level and air sealing measures. As far as this goes, newer homes only get a minimum amount of insulation, which can be significantly less than what Ohio winters call for. Moreover, the air sealing required to seal leaks and drafts that stop heat from escaping is rarely done. Both of these items can have a major impact on the overall energy efficiency and comfort of a home. And, without both of them, it makes the age of the home irrelevant as the system will have to work a lot harder to provide the same level of comfort.
Myth #2: Closing Vents & Registers in Unused Areas Saves Money
Despite it seeming counterintuitive, closing off air vents and registers won’t save you any money on heating costs. Nevertheless, we remind homeowners that furnaces are installed and set up in a precise way so that the air pressure stays balanced with vents and registers open in all areas of the house. Because of this and other considerations, closing vents messes with this intricate balance in addition to not saving on heating costs. Ultimately, it puts strain on the system. For best results, it’s best to leave all vents and registers open.
Myth #3: Cranking Up the Thermostat Heats the Home Faster
Occasionally, when it’s not as warm as we’d like it to be in our homes, we can be tempted to try to turn the heat several degrees above our normal temperature setting to hurry the warming process. Nonetheless, this is another myth, as it’s not the least bit helpful and furthermore it will cause the furnace to keep blowing heat after your home reaches the temperature level you were seeking in the first place. Except for multi-stage systems, all home heating systems always work at maximum capacity when they’re turned on — regardless of what temperature setting you have the thermostat set on. Because of this fact, there’s never a good reason to crank up the temperature above what you’re actually wanting it to be for normal comfort. It’s not going to heat things up any faster. It’s going to cause more harm in the long run.
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For more on furnace optimization, furnace maintenance, furnace replacement or furnace repair or to find out what your system is or is not doing properly call Newark-Heath Heating & Cooling today at 740-212-5849, or schedule an appointment now by clicking here!
