SMART Heating Systems
Smart heating systems can add comfort and automation to your home. Smart home technology enables digital automation that can be controlled and adjusted effortlessly from your phone. Smart thermostats and sensors work in the same way.
They help increase energy efficiency with preset temperatures that automatically adjust during the day—for example, reducing temperatures at night and increasing them in the morning.
Ecco modes can reduce the heat when people leave, then increase it before they return, saving money and reducing energy consumption.
Presets can include a guest mode to decrease temperatures when your home is full of people, such as when hosting. Sensors can be added to living areas and main rooms to boost temperature in rooms that are in use. SMART vents can direct more heat to specific rooms.
Furnaces After 2010
High-efficiency furnaces are typically 95% efficient. Efficiency can be further increased depending on the number of stages of the furnace and modulating settings for the blower fan. Likewise, A/C units can be more efficient with multiple stages and modulating capability.
Furnaces Between 1990 and 2010
Mid-efficiency furnaces are common in homes built between 1990 and 2010. Upon installation, mid-efficiency natural gas furnaces are typically 78% to 82% efficient. Assuming proper installation, sizing, and maintenance, you could still be wasting 20 units of energy for every 100 units purchased.
As a mid-efficiency furnace ages, it becomes even less efficient. Over time, efficiency may drop to 55% to 70%, wasting 30–45 units of energy per 100 units purchased.
Furnaces Older Than 1990
Homes built before 1990 often have standard efficiency furnaces, which may only return 50% to 60% of the energy used as heat. This assumes proper installation, sizing, and maintenance. As these furnaces age, efficiency decreases further.
Electric Furnaces
Electric furnaces are generally more costly to operate than fossil-fuel furnaces, such as natural gas. The gap in cost has widened as electricity prices have increased. See electricity cost trends.
Investing in a gas or propane furnace, especially in colder climates, can save thousands of dollars in heating costs. While the installation cost is higher than an electric furnace, the long-term savings are significant.
Clean = More Efficient
Any furnace, old or new, loses efficiency when dirty. A dirty furnace forces components to work harder, which accelerates wear and increases energy use. Furnace parts are increasingly expensive to replace as technology improves.
Most homeowners discover efficiency problems after a cold snap, when HVAC technicians are in high demand. Regular inspections and cleaning every year are recommended.
Not all furnace cleaning is equal. Air ducts cleaned by an untrained individual are less effective than a thorough inspection by a trained HVAC specialist. Professionals can detect issues before they become major problems and ensure all components function properly.
Beware of Space Heaters
Space heaters can help warm specific rooms but are expensive to run. During blizzards or cold snaps, municipalities may even request homeowners to turn them off to preserve electricity.