How high is your heating bill? Most people will always say that it’s too high. In fact, according to the US Energy Information Administration, the average American spends $2,284 a year between gas and electric bills, and a significant percentage of that goes to heating. But the cost of energy aside, is your heating bill actually higher than it should be? Is your heating system wasting energy?
Because of its high financial cost and also the environmental impact, it’s important to prevent energy waste. If there’s an issue with your heating system that is causing it to consume more fuel or electricity, you need heating repair in Lawrenceville, GA before that problem gets any worse. So what might the problem be?
A Clogged Air Filter
This is the easiest thing to check and could be a very quick fix. Your furnace’s air filter should be changed every month while it’s being used regularly, and at least every third month when it’s being used intermittently. If it’s choked with dust, your furnace will have to work much harder to pull air through, which will increase its energy usage.
Leaking Ductwork
If your ducts have damage, like a tear or hole, or deterioration, such as flaking away with age, your precious heated air is being lost. It leaks away in places where you don’t need it, like your attic, and doesn’t make it to where you do need it: blowing out your vents. This can account for up to 30% of a heating bill! A technician can inspect, repair, and seal your ducts for better efficiency and lower bills.
Failing Components
Sometimes, a component fails catastrophically. Maybe it makes a loud noise. Chances are, your heat shuts down completely. But sometimes a component fails gradually. If, for example, your blower fan motor is struggling but still trying to work, it can consume a lot more energy than it otherwise would. In this case, it’s only a matter of time before your heat fails entirely.
Thermostat Issues
A miscalibrated or failing thermostat can send the wrong signals to your heating system. This can result in a variety of issues, and one that can cause your utility bill to skyrocket is short cycling. This is when the furnace turns on and off much too often. Because the startup uses more energy than any other part of the cycle, starting up ten times an hour instead of three wastes a ton of energy.
Limit Switch Problems
The limit switch of your furnace is a safety mechanism. Its job is to shut the system down if the internal temperature gets too high. If this happens over and over, your system will short cycle, as described above. This could be happening because a component, such as the blower motor, is overheating. But it can also happen simply because the limit switch is faulty.
Resolving Energy Waste in Your Heating System
Once this problem has started, the solution is to get repairs from a qualified technician. They may also have recommendations about how to use your heating system most efficiently. But wouldn’t it be lovely to avoid this situation altogether? The best way to do that is to get maintenance done annually. Whether you need maintenance or repair, our team is ready to help.
Reach out to Wall Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. to make an appointment.