Cold fronts are already beginning to make their way across America, and as temperatures continue to drop, it’s important to heat your house safely without wasting money.
As the holiday season quickly approaches, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of things and lose track of your heating consumption. Most homeowners are unaware of just how easy it is to waste money on energy consumption. Here are five simple mistakes homeowners make each year on winter heating.
1) Leaving The Heat On
Some may think that it’s better to leave the heat on high even though no one is home in order to keep it warm. This is an easy way to waste energy and money. If no one is there to use it, then it is just running for no reason. When you go to bed, or leave the house, set your thermostat to a lower temperature; just a few degrees change will make a huge difference. There are even some new thermostats that have eco-friendly technology and know how to adjust the temperature for you while you’re not home.
2) Not Replacing Door Seals
The weatherstripping that lines the bottom of your door is there to prevent air from leaking out of your home. If you notice sunlight shining through the crack, or if the weatherstripping is coming loose and getting jammed every time you open or close the door, it might be time to replace it. If left alone, the tiny crevice under your door can and will allow air to escape, wasting your money and heating this winter.
3) Overlooking The Chimney
A fireplace is a charming accessory to your home, especially during the winter months. But one mistake homeowners make is allowing the warm air in your home to escape right out the chimney. Most chimneys, especially those in older homes, aren’t properly sealed airtight and allow your indoor air to leak right out. Take some time to have your chimney inspected and cleaned, and if needed you can buy a device, such as a chimney balloon to create a seal and prevent air from seeping out.
4) Not Changing The Furnace Filter
It’s an easy item to forget about, but your furnace filter is very important to keep clean and change frequently. The furnace filter prevents particles and debris from clogging or damaging your furnace. Filters also help to keep your air quality clean by removing pet dander, dust, and mold spores from the air. It might be of your best interest to invest in a higher quality filter if you run your heating system quite frequently during the winter season.
5) Turning Off The Ceiling Fan
Despite what homeowners may think, the ceiling fan should be used for both summer and winter months. Ceiling fans do more than cool your house down; they also help to circulate warm air throughout your home. When the season changes, you can flip a switch located on all ceiling fans to turn your blades from counter-clockwise rotation to clockwise rotation. This will push warm air down from the ceiling and keep your house warm, so that you won’t have to turn the heat up too high.
At Rebel Refrigeration, our team of highly trained professionals will make sure you won’t make mistakes on heating this winter. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and have your HVAC system inspected before it gets too cold!