Most of an average American family's energy bill is spent on heating and cooling, with the majority of that going toward heating the home. However, most homeowners are not aware of how much of their energy bill is being unnecessarily wasted on a poorly maintained heating system.

Having a furnace professionally inspected on an annual basis can often help reduce the amount of money being spent on heating by hundreds of dollars per year. By better understanding the connection between furnace inspection and energy savings, homeowners who choose to inspect their furnace will see a significant decrease in the amount of energy wasted on heating.

How Efficiency Is Lost Over Time

A furnace that is losing efficiency will not necessarily stop working all at once; rather, it will steadily lose efficiency over the course of months and years. This can often happen without the homeowner noticing until their heating bills start to increase at an alarming rate.

Because the loss of efficiency is gradual, it can often be mistaken for an increase in heating costs due to colder temperatures or higher electricity rates when, in reality, it is the furnace that is to blame.

This is also why the loss of efficiency is often considered a silent thief; the furnace will continue to heat the home, but it will begin to use more energy in order to produce the same amount of heat.

What Happens During a Furnace Inspection?

In a furnace inspection, a qualified professional will examine the heat exchanger, burners, and air vents for signs of damage, dust, or blockage.

They will also make sure that the filters are not clogged, and if they are, they will be cleaned or replaced.

Beyond the regular maintenance and cleaning of the furnace, the technician will also test the thermostat, check the ignition system, inspect the electrical connections and the blower motor, and test the furnace's safety features.

All of the above contribute to the overall energy efficiency and cost of the heating system, with a malfunctioning thermostat, for example, being able to increase the amount of money being spent on heating dramatically.

How the Loss of Combustion Efficiency Negatively Impacts Costs

For gas furnaces, the biggest contributor to the loss of efficiency is the drop in combustion efficiency. This decline can be the result of numerous factors, ranging from dust blockage to improper calibration, but its effect is felt nonetheless: gas furnaces with improper combustion will fail to fully convert gas to heat, resulting in unburnt fuel being wasted and the furnace having to work harder to compensate for the lost output.

In addition to being a major factor in the increase in heating costs, improper combustion can also be extremely dangerous, as it can lead to the production of unburnt carbon monoxide.

A properly maintained furnace, on the other hand, will be able to achieve a higher level of combustion efficiency, thereby reducing the amount of fuel being wasted and, subsequently, the amount of money being spent on heating.

The Effects of Airflow Restrictions on Energy Costs and Comfort

Airflow restrictions are some of the easiest culprits to detect and remedy. Still, they are also among the major contributors to the loss of efficiency and the increase in heating costs. Whether the cause is clogged filters, blocked vents, or improper airflow in general, the effects of restricted airflow can be seen in the increased strain on the blower motor, which has to work much harder to push air through the restricted space.

This additional strain increases the amount of energy being used by the blower motor and, by extension, the amount of money being spent on heating. During a furnace inspection, the technician will look for and remove any blockage causing restricted airflow, which will, in turn, reduce the strain on the blower motor and reduce the amount of money being spent on heating.

How Furnace Maintenance Adds Up to Increased Lifespan of the Equipment

While the loss of efficiency is the primary culprit for the increase in heating costs, the added strain on the furnace during the time it takes for the furnace to lose efficiency can also dramatically impact the lifespan of the furnace.

Components that are worn out, improperly maintained, or working under unnecessary strain will fail much sooner than they would have had the furnace been maintained regularly. With the replacement cost of a furnace being upwards of $5,000 for many homeowners, prolonging the lifespan of a furnace by even a couple of years can save thousands of dollars for the homeowner.

The Connection Between Regular Furnace Maintenance and Lower Heating Costs

While heating costs will inevitably rise with time, many homeowners find that they spend significantly less on heating following a furnace inspection, especially when compared to the heating season directly preceding it.

For some homeowners, the decrease in costs is drastic enough to offset the costs of the furnace inspection several times over, especially for furnaces that have not seen regular maintenance prior to the inspection.

What Homeowners Should Know About Furnace Inspections

By scheduling a furnace inspection every year, homeowners can ensure that their heating system is operating at peak efficiency for the upcoming heating season, reducing the amount of money being spent on heating for as long as the furnace lasts.

Homeowners across the country trust All-Pro Heat Pump Solutions to identify the causes of the loss of efficiency during an annual furnace inspection, ensuring they spend as little as possible on heating.