Do forced hot air furnaces use much electricity?
A. They can. A furnace fan can use as much as 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually and an oil-burner pump can add another 500 kilowatt hours. Some furnaces also have draft inducers than can use 200 kilowatt hours annually. The amount of electricity used by furnaces can vary considerably, but a good rule of thumb is: The tighter the house and more efficient the furnace, the less time the fan will be running. Here are some things that you can do to have an impact on both these factors. Make sure that the furnace ducts do not leak. Keep the air filter clean and make sure that your return vents are clear of furniture or rugs since reducing air flow can decrease efficiency. Seal air pathways from the house into the attic and from the outside into the basement or crawl space. And when it is time for replacement, look for a furnace with a brushless direct current furnace fan motor since that is the most efficient type. Q What can you tell me about unvented gas heaters? I’ve heard ther
