With fossil fuel (natural gas, propane and oil) prices rising, it is paramount that we heat our homes as efficiently as possible. Efficiency is measured in two forms as it pertains to home heating. The first is AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) which applies to fossil fuel burning furnaces. The AFUE for today's base furnace is 80% of the gas consumed by the furnace comes into your home as heat. 20% of the gas you pay for leaves through the chimney. The second is SEER (Seasons Energy Efficiency Rating) which applies to the compressor bearing heat pumps and air conditioning. The base as of January 26, 2006 will be 13 seer. The higher the number the more you are efficiently heating and cooling your home the less you are paying for electricity.

An electric furnace is one of the least inefficient ways to heat your home. The heat is created by burning electricity similar to a toaster. By adding a heat pump to this system is a simple way to save a boat load of money on your heating bills.

We have also had a lot of requests to replace oil furnaces with heat pump systems. Oil has an unpleasant odor, creates soot and is expensive to operate.

If you have a gas furnace that has a standing pilot, then you have a 60% AFUE rating. 40% of the gas you pay for does up the chimney. Trane has a 92% AFUE furnace. I feel a lot better about losing 8% of the heat I pay for rather than 40%.

The heat pump is the most efficient way to heat your home. However a heat pump cannot heat your house by itself. The heat pump works by extracting heat out of the outside air and using it to heat up your house. The problem being in weather around the 30 degree range a heat pump will not heat the house enough. This is when we use supplemental heat. In the traditional heat pump system and electric furnace is used in conjunction with the heat pump to maintain the desired temperature. Even if the heat pump runs 24 hours a day it is still less expensive then heating with the electric furnace only. The ideal supplementary heat is a fossil fuel furnace. These furnaces heat very well in the extremely low temperatures of the year. This system is called duel-fuel. You get the efficiency and savings of the heat pump and the warmth of a fossil fuel furnace.

If you currently have a heat pump system, be sure your heat pump is ready to do its job. If the refrigerant is low or is not working properly you may not know it until you receive your electric or gas bill.

Please call our office and ask Wendy to set up an appointment for me, Alan R. Purser, Jr. to come to your home and give you a free estimate. I will give you my best expert advice and show you how to make your home heating system efficient and comfortable for this winter and many winters to come.