Tips For First-Time Furnace Users

Installing a furnace in your home will keep you comfortable in the winter (if your home does not already have one which would be rare), but if you are a first-time furnace user, you may have many questions as to how the furnace functions and how to make optimum use of it without wastage of energy or high utility bills.

Here are some important things to keep in mind while using a furnace:

a. Turn on the furnace when it is less than 64 degrees

Whether you must turn on your furnace depends on the temperature outdoors but also the temperature inside your house. Outside weather does impact your indoor temperature. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that 64-70 degrees is an ideal indoor winter temperature.

For optimal health and comfort, homes that have senior citizens and children should be kept at around 70 degrees.

b. Don’t maintain the temperature too low

Many people keep the temperature low in order to save on heating costs. But if indoor temperatures are below 50 degrees, you might find water pipes freezing. Frozen pipes are really troublesome during winters when you really need hot water.

c. Maximize savings by programming your thermostat wisely

Rather than turn on the furnace, set it at just one temperature, and then forget about it, using an adjustable thermostat and varying the indoor temperature in accordance with your schedule will help you save money on heating bills.

Lower the indoor temperatures during the time that you are mostly out of the house. You can increase the temperature when all the family members are home. You can also check for thermostats that allow you to adjust the temperature in different parts of the house as and when they are frequented the most.

Set up a heating schedule for weekdays and weekends. If you are going out of town for a couple of days, you can leave the heating on at a low setting. If you switch off your furnace and leave, you might come back to frozen pipes.

Careful use of your programmable thermostat can help you save between 10-23% on your monthly heating bills.

d. Run a check before switching on your furnace for the first time

Before you turn on the furnace for the first time in the season (perhaps in November or even October), test the thermostat by setting it to auto and increasing the temperature by 4-5 degrees above room temperature. When you hear the fan turn on and warm air coming from the vents, you’ll know that the thermostat is working perfectly.

e. Change the filter

Regularly cleaning and changing the furnace filter is important. Turn the furnace off, remove the filter from the blower and clean it from time to time or change it as required.

f. Invest in an annual tune up

Having an HVAC professional look over your furnace annually or once before the winter season will help you identify any issues or wear and tear that may occur. This is also important to increase the efficiency of your furnace so that you don’t face high heating costs.