September 25th, 2007

By Melissa Segrest

Winter’s icy blast is on its way, and now is the time for folks in cold climates to consider conserving energy when firing up the furnace. Replacing an old, cranky furnace may be your best option, but if that’s impractical, you can retrofit your current furnace to make it more energy-efficient. Most furnaces are fueled by natural gas or propane, and Northeasterners pay more for their natural gas, according to the Department of Energy.

The most common way to retrofit your furnace is to add a vent (or flue) damper. That closes the boiler’s vent when the boiler isn’t pumping out heat. This works for steam boilers, and the bigger your boiler, the better a vent damper helps. If your furnace is newer, or it is already the proper size for your home, a vent damper won’t help much.

Another way to save is to retrofit your old furnace or boiler with an intermittent ignition device. You’ll need a pro to do this, and it costs about $250. This won’t help an old furnace, though. So if that’s true for you, make a note now to turn off the pilot when spring rolls around and fire it up again next fall.

A few other ways to save money and energy during the winter:

• Turn your thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees for about 8 hours a day (when you’re sleeping). This can save up to 15 percent on your heating bill. A programmable thermostat makes this easier. Do the reverse in the summer and the savings add up. Most heating systems can be fitted with a programmable thermostat, which one source says can save you $150 a year.

• Get your ducts in shape. Many leak and are poorly insulated. Others may be blocked or need simple upgrades (again, this helps in summer, too). Make sure that furniture isn’t blocking the air flow from your registers.
• Have a pro do an annual maintenance check to look for leaks in heat exchangers, problems with the chimney or to adjust the controls on the boiler or furnace.
• Hire an energy rater to review your entire house, looking at insulation, windows, door leaks and other ways heat escapes. This can cost a few hundred dollars, but if you want to make any large improvements that might qualify for federal tax breaks or you just want an energy picture of your entire house, you’ll need their expertise. To find a rater for your area, contact the Residential Energy Services Network or use their online state-by-state locater.
  

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