As the temps continue to get cooler, the last thing you need to be concerned about is maintaining a comfortable home. It would be great to be lounging around on the couch enjoying the cozy warmth of your home and not even concerned with the cold temps. Of course, it may not be that easy, and there are a few issues that could be taking place in your home that could end up with you scheduling furnace repair or an unnecessary increase in your utility costs.
There are a variety of causes for higher utility bills, 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, that air loses some of its heat. An option to help minimize that impact is to make sure you’ve closed 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 – with older homes there’s a possibility that there is insufficient 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. When you go to check out your attic’s insulation, you’ll want to see if the insulation is even or below the joists. If that’s the case, you likely need more insulation.
- Gaps in windows and doors – sometimes these gaps are more obvious and visible to the naked eye or large enough to feel drafts coming in, but sometimes that may not be the case. 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 make your furnace work harder, potentially upping the chance that you’ll need furnace repair.
Hopefully, these tips help you determine any potential issues in your home that impacts your comfort. If you’d like to speak with our professionals about your furnace or indoor comfort, give us a call at 800-296-5088.