Is your gas furnace old?  Is your gas bill high?  Does your furnace break down frequently?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it may be worth it to consider a new high efficiency gas furnace.  An old furnace will generally be less effcient due to age, dirt, and corrosion.  Which may lead to a higher than necessary gas utility bill.  Let's explore some of the ways that a new furnace can save you money.

Federal energy tax credits are one way to lower the initial cost of a new furnace.  The current energy tax credits are set to expire December 31st, 2013.  So time is just about up to take advantage of the energy tax credits.  A new gas furnace with an A.F.U.E. (annual fuel utilization efficiency) of 95% or higher qualifies for a $150.00 tax credit.  If you purchase a furnace with a variable speed blower motor ( a.k.a. an advanced main circulatory fan) then you can qualify for an additional $50.00 tax credit.  In addition, if you purchase a new air conditioner ( SEER 16 or higher) or a new heat pump ( SEER 15 or higher), then you can qualify for an additional $300.00 energy tax credit.  For example, let's say you purchase a 96.7% efficient 2-stage variable speed gas furnace and 16 SEER air conditioner, you would qualify for a $ 500.00 energy tax credit.  Remember, these energy tax credits are set to expire in a few weeks, so time is critical.

To learn more about the federal energy tax credits, click here :                  http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index  

Certain utility providers also have rebate programs available to help offset the cost of high efficiency HVAC equipment.  AEP has a program that offers a $50.00 rebate for a programmable thermostat (with heat pumps), $150.00 for new indoors unit with a variable speed blower, $100.00 for air conditioner SEER 14.5 or higher, $350.00 for a heat pump of SEER 14.5 or higher (both ac and heat pump would need to replace a unit that was 13 SEER or less to qualify), and a complete system bonus of $150.00.  The maximum rebate would be around $700.00 for a complete new system.

To learn more about AEP rebates, click here :        http://dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=OH97F

One of the biggest ways to save money with a new furnace is the efficiency savings over the life of the furnace.  I have a good real life example of this.  10 years ago, I replaced my mother's furnace for her.  Her old furnace was 30 years old, over-sized, and dirty.  I replaced it with a standard 80% A.F.U.E. gas furnace that was right-sized.  I did not use a high efficiency model furnace (90%+) because her house is small (only about 750 sq feet).  I replaced the furnace the first week of December that season.  The following spring (about mid-April), my step-father called to inform me that their gas utility provider had lowered their monthly budget  by $40.00.  Since, they are on the budget program, that means they saved $480.00 a year and $4,800.00 over the last 10 years (not counting utility increases over that time which would make their savings even higher).  The furnace cost a lot less than $4,800.00 which means they not only have totally recouped their inital cost of installing the furnace, but they are saving big money now.  The other upside to this story is that furnace has another 10 to 20 years of life left in it.  It doesn't take much to see the benefits of replacing an old inefficient furnace.

energystar.gov has a tool on their site that allows you to calculate your savings of one model furnace over another.  Click here :    http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=FU

And then, underneath "furnace resources" on the right side of the page, click on "savings calculator".

One final thing, Minutemen Heating and Cooling is offering a $100.00 discount towards a new furnace installation (no other discounts apply) or $200.00 discount towards the installation a new complete system (both furnace and ac).  This offer expires with the energy tax credits on December 31, 2013.  Just mention that you read this blog to qualify for the discount. 

I hope this has been informative.  Call Minutemen Heating and Cooling today for a free estimate to install a new HVAC system in your home.  You can reach us at Phone 614-837-5062.

Thanks!

Jim Harless

The typical 1” thick furnace filter usually indicates that it is good for “up to” 90 days. The key wording is “up to.” Depending on frequency of use and cleanliness of your ductwork, you may get 90 days out of your furnace filter. But, usually the filter needs to be replaced sooner than that. We recommend checking your furnace filter monthly and replacing when the filter has a noticeable layer of dirt across the surface.

This will improve the performance of your system and prevent costly breakdowns which can occur when the system is left to run with a clogged furnace filter. The filters will pay for themselves in the long run if replaced regularly.

Who doesn’t want to save some money wherever they can? Here are five tips that may help you cut some cost on your air conditioning and heating bills.

Air conditioners are the main cause for the increase in those electric bills during the summer months. Columbus Ohio Heating and CoolingFurnaces are responsible for a big part of your electric and gas bill (if applicable) in the winter months. While these things greatly affect your utility charges, there are a few things you can do to save on your bill.

Have your furnace and air conditioner checked by a licensed reputable dealer each season before using. This will help your equipment work more economically and will increase your equipment’s dependability.

1 - Sometimes your heating or cooling equipment might need tuned up. This would be determined during your seasonal check out.

2 - Have freon leaks repaired on your air conditioner. If there is a leak present, it will lower the system’s performance and efficiency, and will end up costing you more money in electricity and repair costs.

3 - When purchasing a new unit, pay attention to the efficiency rating. The higher the rating, the more savings you will see on your utility costs. You may pay more for the unit, but should see a return with your energy costs over the equipment’s lifespan.

4 - If your house is empty for a particular time of the day, you may consider having a programmable thermostat installed. This enables you to set your unit to a more efficient temperature while you are away and then return it to a comfortable temperature level before you are to arrive back home.

5 - Make sure to clean and change your filters every thirty days.

At Minutemen Heating & Cooling, you can rest assured that we will walk you through this process with ease.

Here are a few things to consider when deciding on which unit to purchase and which unit will be most efficient for you. The higher efficient the unit is rated, the more money you will pay out in the beginning. Please be prepared to look at your system efficiency as an investment because it truly is! Once you make your purchase, you will find the higher efficiency systems will pay you back with lower energy costs over the life span of the unit.

Systems are rated in a few different ways as far as efficiency is concerned.

Making a decision on the right type of heating and air conditioning system you need in your home may seem very overwhelming. With so many choices and so many things to consider, you want to make sure you are working with someone who is going to keep you and your family’s best interest in mind when deciding on which system to place in your home.

Air Conditioners

A/C units are rated in Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, or in other words SEER.

SEER ratings show you how much cooling you get in return for a unit of electricity. The higher number in SEER rating, the more you get in return for your money. Here is an example:

If you replaced a unit that was rated at 5.0 with a 10.0, you would save 50% of the cost of electricity to operate the unit. Two speed units can run on low speed 80% of the time. This allows them to get ratings as high as 16.0 SEER.

Furnaces

Most heating units are rated as Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, or in other words, AFUE.

AFUE measures the amount of heat that is actually delivered to your home in comparison to the amount of fuel that you must supply to the heating unit. Here is an example:

A furnace that is rated 80% AFUE converts 80% of the fuel supplied to the unit for heating and the other 20% basically goes out the chimney. AFUE is referring only to the unit’s fuel efficiency, not the electric usage.

Something else you may want to consider when purchasing a new unit is the noise level. If the unit has a low sound level, you will barely notice when it is running. Units that have a high sound level could result in sleepless nights and not so happy neighbors!

One more thing, while replacing your system, you might consider having your ductwork checked to see if it is in need of repair or replacement. There may be some rooms in your home that get too hot, or too cold. There may also be insulation that is peeling, or there could be a buildup of contamination inside the duct. You should also have your return air grilles and grilles in each individual room checked to see if they are the proper size and are working correctly.

There are other add-ons to your system that you may want to look into that can allow your unit to help you and your family live more comfortably and promote better health. Air cleaners are a wonderful add-on that really improve the quality of life for allergy sufferers, and they also help keep your house cleaner. We have just the product for you that we are excited to offer our customers. Please ask us how you can try one out in your home at no cost.

Last but not least, here is a very simple thing you can do to keep your system running at it’s best- make sure you keep your filters clean and change them at least four times a year.