This isn’t your first winter, you know what to do – but do you know how to do it without breaking the bank? Below you will find five mistakes that homeowners often make when heating the home in the autumn and winter months (and in San Diego it’s most likely the spring, too).
1. Blasting the heat to warm up a cold house quickly
It’s natural to want to turn up the thermostat to the max as soon as you get in the house to warm it up faster, but thermostats don’t quite work that way. The heater will warm up and heat the home at the same rate regardless of whether you set it to 65 degrees or 85 degrees. It will only end up costing money in the long run.
2. Turning the thermostat way down at night
This tip works a lot like the first one. If you set the thermostat too low at night, you’re likely to wake up in the morning and blast it to warm up a frigid home, which will hit you in the wallet. Turn the thermostat down when you get into bed, but keep it at a comfortable level that will not be too drastic in the morning.
3. Overworking the thermostat
If you set the temperature to 75 degrees and the thermostat is reading a maximum of 69 degrees, don’t set the thermostat to 80 degrees to push the matter. This problem means that the furnace or ducts need repair, or they have to be replaced altogether. Do not force the furnace to work beyond its capacity because you can end up in a cold house overnight.
4. Closing the shades when it’s sunny
Keep your curtains open as much as possible on sunny days, especially in south-facing windows. Although it’s still frigid outside, the sun’s rays can do wonders for heating your home and giving your heating bill a break. Keeping the windows clean and free of film and dust can also contribute to lower heating bills.
5. Not sealing the windows
You will most likely not need to open the windows in cold months so lock and seal them. Sealing windows insulates the house and keeps your furnace heat in while keep cold air out. Skipping this one can really hit your wallet even if your home feels cozy and you don’t feel the cold air coming in.
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Whether we like it or not … colder weather is coming. Home heating costs can be outrageous, which means making smart decisions about your home’s heating system can have a big impact on your utility bills. Take a look at these tips to learn how to decrease your home’s heating costs this winter!
1. Thermostats
If you live in a multi-level home, it is important to take a look at your thermostat settings in order to manage your home heating costs. By monitoring multiple thermostats, you can adjust the temperature as necessary. Take a look at the time of day – if there’s a lot of natural sunlight coming in, you probably don’t need your thermostat set on high. The same idea applies to things like how much you’re using the floor and if you have guests over. While it might seem like an insignificant change, you can actually save 5 to 15% a year on your heating bill if you turn your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for just 8 hours a day.
2. Windows
Take advantage of your windows by keeping the blinds or shades open when it’s sunny and closed if it’s shady or nighttime. If you have the opportunity to upgrade your windows to energy-efficient windows, it can help keep your heating and cooling costs down. Consider maximizing the energy efficiency in your home; you’d be surprised what a difference it makes throughout the entire year.
3. Vents
Sealing air ducts to rooms that are not being used or rooms that get infrequent traffic (i.e. bathroom, laundry room, closets, guest or storage rooms), lets you decrease the number of rooms that need heat. This gives rooms that are in use more of the heat, than if you would have let the heat go to all rooms.
4. Clothing and Blankets
While it may seem extreme to say that you should invest in warmer clothing and fuzzy blankets, doing this can actually help keep costs down. Not that you have to be bundled up like you’re walking into the Artic Circle or anything, but wearing appropriate clothing in your house allows you to adjust your thermostat even further. Keeping blankets around lets family members or friends keep warm if they are feeling a little chilly, too.
5. Ceiling Fans
While it might seem counter-intuitive to turn on your ceiling fan in the middle of winter, it can actually make your home warmer. By setting your ceiling fan to spin clockwise, it blows rising hot air down towards you, making you warmer. This saves you the trouble of having to increase the temperature of your thermostat by providing you with a steadier flow of heat in your rooms.
6. Insulation
If you have the choice, or the opportunity to add insulation to your walls and attic – do this. This allows your home to retain more of your home’s heat without costing you anything on your bill. Up to 25% of your home’s heat is lost through small cracks and holes throughout your home, updating insulation can help you for the long-term.
7. Upkeep
It’s important to make sure that your home heating is working efficiently, which is why it is extremely important to have a professional inspect your system before you even turn the heat on. A poorly maintained system can add costs at a rate of 1-2% per year. Cleaning or replacing furnace filters often during the heating system is also very important because it lets the furnace do its job without using so much energy.
Progressive Heating & Air
8637 Jenny Ave
San Diego, CA 92123
Phone: (858) 529-5050
License #997079
There’s nothing quite like the fall season; the leaves change colors, the weather turns into ‘sweatshirt’ weather, and all your favorite foods become increasingly available. As the seasons change and the weather gets colder and colder, it’s important to evaluate your home heating system. Is your home heating ready to keep you warm this winter? Here are eight things that point to a problem with your home heating system.
1. Odd Noises
While no furnace is ever completely silent, it’s not normal for a furnace to be making all kinds of odd noises. If you hear groaning, banging, or whining noises, your furnace might need some repairs. It’s better to repair a few parts than to let it continue malfunctioning. Contact a professional immediately in order to remedy this issue.
2. Constantly Increasingly the Temperature
If you’re continually increasing the temperature on your thermostat, yet you don’t feel things warm up, you could have a variety of issues. Anything from a malfunctioning thermostat to a leaking duct to an issue with your pilot light could be the culprit. A malfunctioning thermostat could lead to the furnace reading the actual temperature of your home wrong, which could cause it to run or not run when it should be. Contact a professional to get this issue fixed as soon as possible.
3. Increase in Your Electric Bill
If you haven’t felt a temperature change, yet your electric bill has dramatically increased, you could have a failing furnace. While it could happen for a countless number of reasons, it would still be more cost efficient to call a professional to evaluate the situation than letting it continue for the rest of the season.
4. Pilot Light
If you’re looking for the pilot light and it’s not burning, you will need to reignite it because the pilot light must be lit continuously. It should be blue and strong, not yellow and weak. A strong, blue light indicates an ideal balance of gasses, but if your pilot light is yellow and weak, it could be a very dangerous situation that could lead to high levels of carbon monoxide in your home. This can be fatal – call a professional immediately if you see this in your furnace.
5. Air Quality
If your furnace needs repairs, you will often begin to notice the frequency in which you and your household experience breathing related issues such as asthma, allergies, and other illnesses. A failing furnace can put out mass amounts of dust, mold, and other airborne irritants that will then be circulated throughout your home.
6. Drafts and Condensation
Constantly feeling a cold draft in certain parts of your house? This could be an indication that your furnace is not able to heat your entire house anymore. Another sign is ice forming on your roof, which is an indicator that heat from your home is leaking out of your attic. If you’re noticing condensation on the inside of your windows, it’s a sign that you should call a professional to look at your system.
7. Repairs Within the Past 2 Years
If your furnace has had multiple repairs in the last two years, it might be an indication that it needs replacement. Most furnaces last around 12 to 15 years, but if your furnace is older than 15 it might be a good idea to start thinking about replacing it. The older it gets, the more likely it will need repairs.
8. Complete or Partial Loss of Heat
Complete or partial loss of heat is an obvious problem because you can physically feel the lack of heat. If you can look at the possible issues and isolate which ones aren’t the problem (i.e. loss of power, pilot light, etc.) it could point to your furnace failing. If you’re receiving partial heat, it could be an indicator of more trivial problems, yet they are still worth getting checked out by a professional.
Furnace inspection and repair is best left to the professionals for many reasons. However, all homeowners should know their way around the furnace to check for safety and operational issues.
It’s important to conduct some rudimentary tests in the off-season so you’re not surprised in the dead of winter. When inspecting the furnace, start with the filter. Check it often and replace it if it is dirty. Replacing a nasty filter is the easiest things to fix and it removes one of the biggest issues in a furnace. A dirty filter doesn’t sound like a big deal, but the air that circulates through your home and into your lungs goes through these filters.
A dirty filter also means restricted airflow, less heat dissipated from the heat exchanger. This makes the furnace to run hotter, which causes premature issues or even a break down. Check to make sure supply registers are open and unobstructed because too many closed off registers can cause the furnace not to operate properly.
Turn on the furnace and give it a good run. Don’t crank it up, but turn it on a little warmer than you would normally set it. Leave the furnace running for 15 minutes and check the duct-work above the furnace. Put your hand on the duct-work to feel that it is hot, but not too hot. You should be able to rest your hand without it causing pain.
These are some basic tests that are good to conduct and can help a homeowner become more knowledgeable on a very important part of the house. It is still impossible to replace regular professional inspection (about once a year, especially before winter). A professional is trained to diagnose furnace issues. Car owners should know how to change a flat tire, but cars still need annual check ups.
If you require assistance with furnace inspection or repair contact Progressive Heating & Air for a free no obligation quotation today.
