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Proper furnace treatment and smart purchases will help you reduce the high costs of heating your property. That is great news considering that energy bills-which are already historically high-are likely to continue to rise. In fact, a article in USA Today reported that homeowners an average of will see a 25.7 percent increase in heating costs compared to last year.

To reduce heating costs, experts say that the power efficiency of your furnace is extremely important. According to Jim Miller of Amana brand furnaces, "Homeowners don't have much get a handle on within the price of propane, however they usually takes measures to minimize the influence of home heating costs." He gives these tips:

1. Have Your Heater Examined. "If you've not already done so this year, have a licensed HVAC specialist check your furnace now," Miller emphasized. "He may do a safety inspection and clean your heater so that it works as efficiently as possible."

2. When Buying a New Furnace, Pick High-Efficiency. A furnace's efficiency is suggested by its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency proportion, or "AFUE," a measurement developed by the U.S. Department of Energy. The larger a AFUE, the more efficient it is. "Furnaces over the age of 15 years operate at efficiencies of approximately 60% AFUE. Which means that for every dollar spent on heating costs, only 60 cents actually helps warm your house, whilst the remaining 40 cents is wasted.

"If you were to displace that 60% AFUE furnace with a high-efficiency system, like the Amana brand AMV9 96% AFUE Variable-Speed Furnace, you'd get 96 dollars worth of temperature for every single dollar you spend toward heat your home," said Miller.

He added that furnaces with a variable-speed blower are a lot more efficient because the blowers usually need up to 75 percent less energy when compared to a standard engine. In addition, a furnace's fan also works with the home's cooling process, meaning customers experience increased efficiency year-round.

3. Examine Tax Credits for High-Efficiency Furnace Acquisitions. Thanks to the Power Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), furnaces are purchased by homeowners who with an AFUE of 95% or maybe more in 2007 and 2006 may be eligible for a credit of $150. And if a variable-speed blower is used by that furnace, they may be eligible for an additional $50 tax credit. discount air conditioning