Beyond AFUE: Additional Factors That Determine Heating Efficiency

Building Materials and Design

The building materials and design affect energy efficiency by determining how much heat can escape or reach the house from the inside. Some materials absorb heat from the sun and radiate it inside the house. Others limit heat absorption. For example, dark-colored roofing materials absorb more heat than light-colored materials, encouraging heating efficiency.

Windows and doors are particularly vulnerable to heat transport. Fortunately, the building industry produces low-emissivity window and door panels, encouraging heating efficiency. For example, double-sided windows include an insulation layer that limits heat transfer.

The house's orientation also determines how much sunlight can stream through its openings or areas with high conductivity. For example, buildings with sun-facing windows and doors admit more heat than those with alternative windows and doors orientation. The heat from outside means your heating system does not work as hard to keep the house warm.

Thermostat Type, Installation, and Use

The type of thermostat determines how long your furnace runs, when it runs, and how effectively it keeps the house warm. For example:

• Smart thermostats allow you to control your heating system remotely. For example, you can start heating the house before arriving or switch it off when the temperature rises after you leave home.
• An intelligent thermostat learns your heating preferences and automates its control for efficient operations.
• Multiple thermostats in different house parts allow heating zoning for independent and efficient temperature control.
• Placing thermostats near heat sources or drafts encourages incorrect temperature readings, interfering with heating efficiency.

Note that your use of the thermostat also matters. For example, a huge temperature difference between the thermostat setting and the outside temperature forces the furnace to work harder than it should. An overworking furnace does not work as efficiently as it should.

Furnace Maintenance

Your furnace's efficiency will drop over time due to wear and tear. However, adequate maintenance should keep the furnace operating close to its maximum efficiency for a long time. Here are a few ways maintenance affects heating efficiency:

• Duct damage allows heated air to escape, reducing air delivery to different rooms and lower heating efficiency.
• Clogged air filters restrict airflow.
• Dirty furnaces do not run as efficiently as they should run. For example, dirty motors overheat and suffer efficiency drops.
• Inadequate lubrication leads to overheating and accelerated wear and tear with their associated inefficiencies.
• Dirty igniters lead to inefficient combustion and reduced heat production.

Maintaining the furnace will take care of most of the above issues. For example, you should regularly replace the air filter, clean the furnace, and lubricate the relevant parts. You should also ensure all the electrical and electronic parts work. Some of these services, such as electrical maintenance, require a professional contractor's intervention.

Window Management

Efficient heating requires you to trap all the heat your house generates and encourage heat from outside to enter the house. For example, you should open the blinds during the day to admit heat from the sun. Close the blinds to trap all heat inside the house at nightfall. Both operations lighten your furnace's load.

Contact Dan Wood Company to solve your heating needs. We can install, repair, and maintain your heating system to ensure it is efficient. You can rely on our extensive experience to identify and plug efficiency gaps in your current heating system.