Want to get a handle on the high cost of heating? No matter what your fuel source, those heating costs skyrocket during the fall and winter months. As a homeowner, you can take control of these costs by following a few simple steps.
Start with an energy audit. Go around your home and look for any potential weaknesses or vulnerabilities for heat loss. It’s time to get your home in top energy-efficient shape.
Here is how you start.
Why You Need a Furnace Tune-Up
Your furnace is the engine of your home’s heat. It only stands to reason that you need this system to be operating as efficiently as possible to save you the most money- right at the source.
During a tune-up, you’ll get your filter changed, your pilot light re-lit and the parts cleaned and inspected for damage.
This will save you money by reducing the amount of fuel that your furnace needs and will also identify any problems that can be fixed now, instead of as costly emergency repairs. The best time to do a furnace inspection is in the fall, right when you turn it on.
Reverse the Ceiling Fan
Keeping your ceiling fan on in the fall and winter is a low energy way to circulate the warm air. All you have to do is switch the fan to reverse (clockwise) to push warm air the best. On the other hand, don’t leave kitchen and bathroom fans on. They actually suck warm air from the room.
Is your damper closed?
You may not be aware, but that warm and glowing fireplace is a major source of heat loss if your damper is open when the fireplace isn’t being used.
Heat, time and use can cause it to warp, so make sure that it closes tightly. For extra protection, insert a chimney balloon, which inflates to block the exchange of warm air for cold air from outside.
Raise the Threshold
If you see daylight when you close the door, you’ve got to close those gaps in your home. Install adjustable threshold, which will raise the level of the threshold so that it is flush with the door. No more drafts.
Sunshine= Free Heat
Leave your curtains open during the day and get a heating boost for free from those glorious rays of sunshine. Even though it is colder outside, the sun still burns hot enough to raise the temperature in a sun-facing room during the day.
Window Film
As windows age, they become less air tight. Replacing them all is expensive, but you can improve them by sealing them with clear window film. You attach the film with double sided tape to the window frame and then mold in place with a hair dryer.
When is the last time you had a furnace tune-up in Boston, MA? Schedule your appointment today by contacting Atlantic Heating & Air Conditioning at (617) 566-6990.
