Stop Wasting Money: 4 Expert Tips to Boost Furnace Efficiency in Michigan
When the snow starts piling up, and the wind chill drops into the single digits, your furnace is the heartbeat of your Alpena, home. At Roots Heating & Cooling, we believe that heartbeat should stay strong for as long as possible.
We know the temptation is often to “wait until it breaks,” but we’re here to change that narrative. Our goal is to help you get several more years out of your current furnace without the stress of expensive emergency repairs or a premature replacement.
How Can I Make My Furnace Last Longer?
If you are looking for ways to save on heating bills and improve furnace maintenance, follow these four steps:
- Change standard 1-inch filters every 30–90 days to prevent airflow restriction.
- Schedule a professional furnace tune-up to catch small mechanical issues.
- Maintain humidity between 30% and 50% to protect the heat exchanger.
- Install a smart thermostat to reduce unnecessary system “miles.”
As your neighborhood heating and cooling company, we take great pride in providing quality services at affordable prices to homeowners in Millington, Alpena, Saginaw, Bay City, and the surrounding areas. We keep it simple by treating every customer like family!
Understanding the Root Causes of Efficiency Loss
Before diving into the furnace efficiency tips, it is important to understand why furnaces lose efficiency. Over time, friction, dust accumulation, and mechanical “drift” take a toll. When a furnace isn’t maintained, it has to run longer cycles to reach the same thermostat setting.
This doesn’t just raise your gas or electric bill; it places immense thermal stress on the heat exchanger.
The more a system short-cycles or struggles against restricted airflow, the closer it gets to a terminal breakdown. By being proactive, you are protecting the structural integrity of the entire HVAC system.
4 Furnace Tips to Save You Money
The average furnace lasts between 10 and 15 years, but that number isn’t set in stone. There is no secret shortcut to a longer furnace service life in your Alpena, home—it comes down to treating your system with care and respect.
With just a small amount of time and attention, you can ensure your furnace lives well beyond its warranty.
From our team here at Roots Heating & Cooling, here are four essential tips to follow to make your furnace last longer:
1. Change Your HVAC Filter Regularly
This is the simplest and most beneficial thing you can do for your heating system. You should check the manufacturer’s guidelines to see how frequently you should replace your filter, but during a heavy Michigan winter, checking it every 30 days is a best practice.
When filters get clogged with dust, pet hair, and airborne debris, it creates static pressure. This means your blower motor has to work twice as hard to push air through the house. Eventually, this leads to the motor burning out or the heat exchanger overheating. A clean filter ensures your furnace breathes easily, keeping components cool and efficient.
2. Make Tune-Ups a Priority
Think of a furnace tune-up like an oil change for your car. You wouldn’t drive a vehicle for five years without changing the oil, yet many homeowners go years without an HVAC inspection.
Scheduling annual tune-ups for your furnace and AC saves money in the long run and helps ensure your system runs when you need it most. Our nearby HVAC technicians in Alpena, clean any excess debris or mold from your equipment, which protects your furnace and significantly improves the indoor air quality of your home.
3. Regulate Your Home’s Humidity
Protecting your furnace from excess moisture is an easy step to forget. In the winter, dry air actually feels colder to the skin, which often leads homeowners to crank up the heat.
However, if your home is too humid, it can cause the internal metal parts of your furnace to rust, leading to a cracked heat exchanger. We recommend keeping humidity levels between 30% and 50% to protect your equipment and your comfort.
4. Limit Use With a Smart Thermostat
Every hour the burners are lit is an hour closer to the end of the system’s lifespan. A convenient way to save on heating bills is by upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat. These devices “learn” your habits and optimize your heating cycles, reducing the “active miles” on your furnace while keeping your utility costs low.
Common Questions About Furnace Efficiency & Maintenance
Q: How do I know if my furnace is high efficiency?
Look for the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating on your unit. Modern high-efficiency furnaces typically have a rating of 90% or higher, meaning 90% of the fuel is converted into heat for your home, while only 10% is lost through exhaust. If your unit is older, it may be rated at 80% or lower.
Q: Is it really worth it to get an annual tune-up if my furnace seems fine?
Absolutely. Many furnace warranties actually require proof of annual professional maintenance to remain valid. Beyond the warranty, a tune-up identifies small issues—like a worn capacitor or a dirty flame sensor—that would otherwise cause a total system shutdown on the coldest night of the year.
Q: Can I close vents in unused rooms to save money?
No! Your HVAC system was designed to handle a specific amount of air pressure. Closing vents increases the pressure inside the ductwork, which can actually cause your blower motor to work harder and may lead to leaks in your ducts. It is better to keep all vents open to maintain proper airflow.
Contact Roots Heating & Cooling for All Your Furnace Needs
Don’t wait for a mid-winter breakdown! Call Roots Heating & Cooling today at 989-290-7668 or request service online to schedule a professional tune-up with one of our highly trained and experienced professionals. Let’s keep your Alpena, home warm and your energy bills low all season long.
