With the temps dropping, the last thing you should have anxiety over is keeping a comfortable home. It would be great to be lounging around on the couch enjoying the cozy warmth of your home and not worrying about the colder weather outside. Of course, it may not be that easy, and there are a few things that could be taking place in your home that might result in a need for 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 – the glass on your windows are cold from the outdoor temps and when the warm air makes contact, the indoor air becomes cooler. One way to help reduce the loss of heat is to make sure you’re closing your drapes during the evening hours and make sure that your windows are receiving light during the day before opening them.
- Lack of attic insulation – with older homes there’s a likelihood that there is a lack of insulation. This means you could be losing heat through your attic, causing your heating system to work harder than necessary, and may eventually result in furnace repair. 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. If that’s the case, it’s likely your attic needs some additional 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. Be sure to thoroughly 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 make your furnace 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 803-220-0761.