Knowledge Base

Heating

Heating your home uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in your home. Typically, 46% of your utility bill goes for heating. What's more, heating and cooling systems in the United States together emit 150 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, adding to global climate change. They also generate about 12% of the nation's sulfur dioxide and 4% of the nitrogen oxides, the chief ingredients in acid rain.

So make sure you have an Energy Star rated heating system and if your system is several years old, consider upgrading to the latest high efficiency models.

No matter what kind of heating or air filtration system you have in your house, you can save money and increase your comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment.

Heating Tips

Install and use a programmable thermostat. Set it a lower temperature during the night or when no one is home.
Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter.
Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes.
Consider a professional duct cleaning every few years to maximize system efficiency (and air quality).
Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional.
Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing; when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
Use space heaters sparingly. If you're only heating a room or two, it may make sense to lower your main system and use space heaters to prevent freezing or warm key rooms. However, today's open floor plans and the high cost of electricity is likely to negate any cost-savings.
Remember, space heaters may be a hazard when unattended. Please follow all manufacturer recommendations.

Upgrade to an Energy Star rated heating system. If you have an older system, chances are upgrading to today’s more efficient systems will save you hundreds of dollars on your heating bill every year. The new system could pay for itself in a few years. (Updating to efficient heating systems is one of the most often recommended cost-efficient improvements in the State of Alaska’s Energy Rebate Program.)

Wood-burning fireplaces may look romantic and feel toasty, but they actually suck the heat from your home out the chimney. Glass doors help only a little.