Top Causes of Furnace Inefficiency

You may feel like you don’t use your heater very much here in Austin, but we all know how surprising Texas’ weather can be! When you want to get cozy on a chilly day with your heater on and a warm drink, you want to be confident in your furnace’s performance. This includes the temperature of the air and the amount of energy your furnace uses!

Service Wizard wants your heater usage to be reliable and affordable. Every degree you heat your home shouldn’t be a source of stress, so we have some insider information to share about your heating system. If you want an energy-efficient home, take a look at these tips!

You Have An Older Unit

Your heater is expected to last around 15-20 years. With regular maintenance and care, furnaces are more likely to last that entire lifespan. However, no matter how much care you put into your heating system, some inefficiency is expected as the system ages. Parts wear out, connections weaken and the unit has to use more energy to compensate for the less efficient performance. 

If your system is approaching the 10-15 year mark, it’s important to start watching its performance carefully. This supervision will reveal spikes in your energy bill and other indicators that point to a failing unit. 

Incorrect Furnace Size

There’s a reason why furnaces come in a range of sizes. Your home has a specific heating demand that needs to be calculated in order for you to invest in the appropriately sized system. A big cause of inefficiency in your current furnace could be due to the unit being missized or your heating demand changing. For example, if you added a room to your home, your heating load is going to change. 

If your furnace is too big, it will run short cycles, but turn on and off frequently. This uses a lot of extra energy and usually causes poor dehumidification. If your unit is too small, it will struggle to produce the amount of heat you want. You might notice slow warming speeds or long cycles of your heater running.

Air Duct Issues

It’s important to remember that your air ducts are a huge part of your heating system. If your system is using precious energy to heat your air, you certainly don’t want it leaking out or cooling by the time it reaches your home. Cracks, holes and weak seals can cause up to 40% energy loss within your heating system! This is why making sure your air ducts are sealed and operating properly is so important.

You may also ask a professional to assess the size and design of your air ducts. If the wrong sized ducts were installed or they’re designed poorly, the warm air might not be moving along the ductwork efficiently.

Is Your Furnace Efficient?

If you don’t know how to measure your furnace efficiency, call on the experts to help you out. Our team at Service Wizard is more than happy to assess your heating system and make necessary adjustments to ensure your warm air makes it to your home. Stop suffering from an inefficient furnace when we’re just a call away! Contact us and start your service request now!