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What Are Some Simple Ways to Improve Home Heating Efficiency?

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benettanderson07
benettanderson07 Member Posts: 1
in Gas Heating

Hi everyone,

I’m curious to hear what steps people have taken to make their home heating more efficient, especially during colder months.

Things like regular furnace maintenance, improving insulation, checking air leaks, adjusting the thermostat, or upgrading older heating equipment can all make a difference. But I’d be interested to know what has actually worked well for others.

What heating-efficiency improvements have you tried, and did you notice a significant difference in comfort or energy use?

Looking forward to hearing everyone’s experiences and tips.

Comments

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 7,514

    A Blower door test is relatively cheap. Many utilities will pay or supplement the cost. Find out how the heat is getting out and how to keep it in!

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 17,652

    Reducing the building loss is by far the most effective thing anyone can do.

    I haven't done much i that department, but that's the way it is. Everything else isn't going to make much of a difference as long as the heating system is functioning properly. Oil fired systems should be cleaned and tuned at least once per year.

    Adjusting the thermostat has never made sense to me. We heat and cool for comfort, if you want the cheapest solution turn the thermostat off. Otherwise, adjust it so you and your family are the most comfortable. You can tend to keep it on the lower or higher side where everyone is still comfortable, but trying to shave off little bits to save a tiny percentage while people are wearing coats inside doesn't make sense.

    Doing a setback while everyone is away as long as it's a decent length of time will always save fuel because it reduces losses. Anyone who says "the system works harder to catch up and is less efficient" is just wrong because long run times isn't working harder and is certainly without any doubt more efficient and easier on equipment. This includes both heating systems and air conditioning. Many steam systems will not like setbacks due to oversized boilers and improper venting but a well tuned one will handle them fine, even large setbacks without building excessive pressure or causing balancing issues.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 27,758

    Reduce your heat loss! Every single BTU that doesn't leave your building is one you don't have to bring in from some other source.

    And it's amazing what a few simple simple tweaks and maintenance can do. Take windows, for example. If you are so fortunate as to have older double hung windows, make sure they fit well and then provide good storm windows. A good deal less expensive than replacement with fancy modern ones, and as effective — if not more so. Likewise doors.

    Attic insulation — but be careful to make sure that you don't create a moisture problem (if there is a trap door to your attic, they leak like sieves — create some kind of cover for it!

    General insulation may or many not be feasible. It's effective, if it is — but it isn't always possible to do effectively or at a reasonable price.

    Draughts. A blower door test may — or may not — be possible. But you can do a lot if you have a nice windy cold day and just walk around. If you find draughts — one of the more likely places is the joint from the sill to the foundation — there are many ways to seal them up. This will also find poorly fitting windows and doors — or vent fans with dampers which don't close!

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Robert_25
    Robert_25 Member Posts: 576

    reducing air leaks was #1 at my house, followed by increasing the amount of insulation in the attic. Insulating the boiler piping and reducing the operating temperature of the boiler helped also.

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 12,715

    Does AI really need higher efficiency heating in cyberspace?

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    EBEBRATT-Edjesmed1Hot_water_fan
  • Dave Carpentier
    Dave Carpentier Member Posts: 653

    Our place had approx R16 in the attic. Had R50 blown in on top (with moore vents), insulated the hatch and fabbed a gasket with locking clips.

    We both noticed the rooms upstairs became more comfortable. Fuel use came down maybe 8% ? (hard to compare apples).

    30+ yrs in telecom outside plant.
    Currently in building maintenance.

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