Heating

The chill is in the air, but there are ways to warm your home without seeing a spike in your electricity bill. Did you know in the winter months, it’s best to set your thermostat to 70° F or lower? Each degree above 70° F can increase your heating costs by as much as 3-5% per degree.

Our top recommendation for heating your home is with a natural gas furnace. If natural gas is available, we recommend a gas furnace with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of 80% or higher. Operating costs for a gas furnace are relatively low and are comparable to an electric heat pump. If the gas furnace is located in a room below the ceiling insulation, be sure to provide proper venting through a ducted opening to the outside.

Electric furnaces are expensive to operate compared to other heating choices and have a life expectancy of anywhere from 10-30 years.

A thermostat controls the electric furnace and uses heat strips and an air handling system to supply heat to the home. When the inside temperature drops below the thermostat setting, the heat strips and fan turn on. Cold return air is heated as it passes over the heat strips and is distributed into the home through ductwork. When the desired temperature is reached, the unit will shut off.

If natural gas is not available, we strongly recommend an electric heat pump. A heat pump is a simple and energy efficient way to heat a home. In the winter, it removes the warmth from the outside air and pumps it inside. Because heat pumps only transfer heat from one place to another instead of manufacturing it, they provide the most efficient way to heat a home with electricity. In the summer, a heat pump operates exactly like a standard air conditioning unit.

If you’re in the market for a new heat pump, we suggest a Trane heat pump with a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of 14.0 or higher. The life expectancy of a heat pump is similar to that of an air conditioning system, which is 10-15 years. If you choose to purchase a heat pump, make sure to get one with back-up electric strip heating. This will ensure comfort if temperatures drop below 40° F.