With the temps dropping, the last thing you should have anxiety over is maintaining a comfortable home. In an ideal world, you would be able to relax in a warm home and not worrying about the colder weather outside. Of course, things don’t work that way, and there are a few items that could be happening in your home that could end up with you scheduling furnace repair or an unnecessary increase in your utility costs.
There are a number of causes for a rise in your energy expenses, but we are highlighting a few of the more common ones we encounter.
- Heat is getting out through the glass of your windows – when the warm air in your home reaches windows that are cold from the outdoor air, the indoor air becomes cooler. To help reduce the effect that the glass has on your cozy home, make sure you’re closing your drapes during the evening hours and only open the drapes on windows that have light coming in during the day.
- Lack of attic insulation – if your home is older, there’s a possibility that it doesn’t have enough insulation. This means you could be losing heat through your attic, which in-turn makes your furnace work harder, and could eventually harm your furnace. You can easily check if you have enough insulation by looking in your attic to see if the insulation is below or even with the joists. When the insulation is even or below the joists, you likely need more insulation.
- Gaps in windows and doors – as you are taking a look to see if there are any gaps around your doors or windows, keep in mind that they aren’t always easy to notice. Take a closer look at all of your windows and doors to establish whether you need to add weather stripping to take care of those gaps. Similar to attic insulation, window and door gaps can force your furnace to work harder, increasing the chance of furnace repair down the line.
These are just a few tips to help you determine any potential problem areas in your house that could cause heat loss. If you have any questions about furnaces, furnace repair or other ways to combat heat-loss, give us a call at 949-204-0859.