FURNACE information

...Maybe it's just me...actually I am sure it is. I consistently find myself learning more about furnaces than I ever wanted to know...furnaces and air handlers...and any other number of HVAC equiptmental things. Not that it's not interesting, but... The Department of Energy has a section dedicated to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and on their site, they have a number of useful resources. The one I am highlighting today is their section on the upkeep of furnaces and boilers. The original link is: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12530 however, I have also uploaded this onto the resources page on our website: http://www.sinclairair.com/ because I have already lost links on the eere page. Did you know that you can retrofit your existing furnace to 'get' more energy efficiency out of it? I know I usually suggest replacing the whole thing - and units are a lot more efficient now than they were even 5 years ago, but 'retrofitting' might be a great idea for those looking to trim their energy costs without the major payout of replacing the whole system.

"Retrofitting Your Furnace or Boiler Furnaces and boilers can be retrofitted to increase their efficiency. These upgrades improve the safety and efficiency of otherwise sound, older systems. The costs of retrofits should be carefully weighed against the cost of a new boiler or furnace, especially if replacement is likely within a few years or if you wish to switch to a different system for other reasons, such as adding air conditioning (see the section on selecting and replacing heating and cooling systems). If you choose to replace your gas heating system, you'll have the opportunity to install equipment that incorporates the most energy-efficient heating technologies available. Since retrofits are fuel-specific, see the following sections for retrofit information: Gas-Fired Furnaces and Boilers (includes units fired with natural gas and propane) Oil-Fired Furnaces and Boilers Other retrofitting options that can improve a system's energy efficiency include installing programmable thermostats, upgrading duct work in forced-air systems, and adding zone control for hot-water systems, an option discussed in the Heat Distribution Systems section."

They also offer other information about how to choose a new furnace, as well as a chart depicting the possible savings (so you don't have to take my word for it...) that you can check out on the same site. The Department of Energy also provides booklets explaining possible ways to save energy in other areas of the home as well.