Home heating is typically the largest energy expense in a home, accounting for about 45% of the average American family’s energy bills. Especially in a place like the Colorado mountains where snowfall can happen at any time and the cold is our faithful friend for at least 6 months of the year. Making smart decisions on heating can help you and your clients significantly cut heating costs, and the Energy Saver infographic below from energy.gov is a great place to start:
How a home is heated is also something that home buyers need to consider during their home search:
Running costs – request 12-24 months of utility history from the Sellers to see how much it actually costs to heat (or cool) the home. Don’t be afraid to also request the maintenance and expenses history of the system.
Condition – a good home inspector should be able to give you an indication of the health and estimated lifespan of the existing heating system. They should also be able to identify other things within the home which may cause it to be more or less efficient to heat eg. lack of insulation, poor window seals, and so forth.
Health – severe allergy sufferers may want to stay away from forced air heating. It moves allergens around the home a lot more than baseboard and radiant heating types.
Size & Design – The bigger the home, the more to heat. And as you know, heat rises. If a home has vaulted ceilings consider installing a ceiling fan to move warm air down.
Planning – it always helps to plan ahead. Consider what things can be done to the home to make it more energy efficient and reduce running costs. These can be quick, low cost changes as simple as replacing old thermostats.
If you have any questions or need any recommendations for the Steamboat Springs, Colorado area, I’m always here to help!
Charlie.
