Ways to Reduce Your Heating Load

Ways to Reduce Your Heating LoadOne of the most effective ways to reduce energy use in your Yuma area home is to reduce the heating load of your central heating system, whether it’s a furnace, heat pump, or some other form of central heating. Any time you lower the amount of heat that’s needed to make a home comfortable (the heating load), you’ll save both energy and money. The bonus is that most of these strategies also will reduce your home’s cooling load during our long southwest Arizona summers.

Following are some practical ways to lower the heating load on your furnace or heat pump.

  • Change the air filter. If your furnace or air handler filter is clogged with dust and debris, the equipment will have to work harder to push air through the filter. This uses excess energy and stresses heating system components.
  • Seal air leaks. Ideally, you should schedule an energy audit that carefully assesses your home for energy waste, and pinpoints areas where air is leaking or insulation is lacking. Once you know where air is leaking, you can use caulk, weatherstripping or spray foam to seal those leaks, depending on how big and what type they are.
  • Upgrade insulation. The most effective place where you can add insulation is the attic. This will save energy in both summer and winter. During the heating season, a well-insulated, ventilated and sealed attic will reduce the amount of heat that’s escaping into the attic from the living spaces below. This helps your furnace or heat pump efficiently heat those areas.
  • Upgrade windows. If you have old, thin-paned windows, you’re losing a lot of heat through and around those windows. Any strategy for reducing your heating load should address inefficient windows. Select new windows that have the Energy Star seal of approval.
  • Get a programmable thermostat. This will help heating costs when your home is vacant during the day, or at night when home occupants can tolerate cooler sleeping temperatures.

For more advice on reducing the heating load in your Yuma area home, please contact us at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heating load and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 928-723-3183.

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