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Proper heater attention and intelligent purchases will help you reduce steadily the high costs of heating your home. That is great news considering that energy bills-which are actually historically high-are anticipated to continue steadily to rise. In fact, a article in USA Today reported that homeowners typically will see a 25.7 percent increase in heating costs in comparison to a year ago.

Experts say that the energy efficiency of your furnace is very important, to lessen heating costs. According to Jim Miller of Amana model heaters, "Homeowners do not have much control over the value of gas, nevertheless they will take steps to minimize the impact of warming costs." He offers these tips:

1. Have Your Furnace Checked. "If you have not already done so this year, have an authorized HVAC specialist inspect your furnace now," Miller emphasized. "He is able to do a safety inspection and clean your furnace such that it runs as efficiently as possible."

2. When Investing in a New Furnace, Pick High-Efficiency. A furnace's performance is indicated by its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency portion, or "AFUE," a rating produced by the U.S. Department of Energy. The bigger a AFUE, the more effective it is. "Furnaces over the age of 15 years operate at efficiencies of around 60% AFUE. This means that for each dollar used on heating costs, only 60 cents really helps warm your home, as the remaining 40 cents is lost.

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

He added that furnaces with a variable-speed fan are even more effective because the blowers usually need as much as 75 percent less energy than the usual common motor. Furthermore, a furnace's blower also works together the home's cooling system, meaning customers experience improved performance year-round.

3. Investigate Tax Breaks for High-Efficiency Furnace Purchases. Thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), homeowners who buy furnaces by having an AFUE of 95% or higher in 2006 and 2007 might be eligible for a credit of $150. And if a variable-speed blower is used by that furnace, they may qualify for one more $50 tax credit. click for air conditioning