With the colder weather settling in, the last thing you should have anxiety over is sustaining 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 typically doesn’t happen that way, and there are a few issues that could be taking place in your home that may require furnace repair or an unnecessary increase in your utility costs.
There are a number 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. To help reduce the effect that the glass has on your cozy home, 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 likelihood 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 result in furnace repair. 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 it is, you’ll likely want to add some more insulation.
- Gaps in windows and doors – it’s not always easy to tell by just taking a quick look if there are large gaps. Make sure to take a close look at all of your windows and doors to decide whether weather stripping is needed 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 954-320-7398.