A heater can consume a significant amount of household energy. Heaters vary in type and efficiency, so knowing the heaters you currently have is important to understand how to save energy and money with your heater choice.
The most costly heating area in your house is usually the area where the heater is placed. This part may consume up to 40% of your heater’s overall energy consumption.
Typically, a heater is responsible for 15 to 30 percent of the entire home’s energy consumption. Therefore, heaters should be chosen with care to ensure that you are purchasing the heater that will best meet your needs and provide savings over its lifetime.
A heater’s efficiency can be significantly influenced by the fuel it uses. Electric heaters, for example, are more energy-efficient than gas heaters. Electric resistance heating is more energy-efficient than convection heating and convection heating is more efficient than radiant heating.
Always consider the heater’s energy efficiency rating before making your purchase. The higher the rating, the more energy-efficient the heater will be. Look for the heater’s energy factor. The energy factor is a rating of how efficient the heater will be per watt drawn and indicates how close the heater comes to converting 100 percent of input energy to heat output. For example, one with an energy factor rating of 0.90 is 90 percent efficient; it draws 10 watts and outputs about 9 watts as heat.
When it comes to choosing an energy-efficient heater, there are a few things to look for:
- Look at the label
An efficient heater will have a sticker that says what the yearly operating cost of running it is going to be. A more efficient one will have a lower number.
- Compare the energy guide
The energy guide is a government-mandated label that shows how efficient different appliances are. It will list how much electricity or gas the appliance uses and how much it costs to operate each year. Again, look for the Energy Star rating.
- Pay attention to the size
The size matters. If you get a too-large one, it will cycle on and off more often and use more energy in the long run. A good rule of thumb is to get one that is no bigger than what you need.
When shopping for an efficient heater, look for one with a high Energy Star rating. This means that it is up to 40% more efficient than a standard model and qualifies for a federal tax credit. The government-mandated energy guide will also list how efficient the device is.
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Dominion HVAC has a wide variety of energy-efficient heaters to choose from so you can find the perfect one for your home. Not only will you be saving money on your energy bill, but you’ll also be doing your part to help the environment.