The weatherman is forecasting temperatures in the 20's this week! None of us want to see a higher-than-usual heating bill right in the middle of our gift-giving. There are things you could be doing right now that make your furnace work harder and drive up the utility bills.
Avoid these commons mistakes to prevent unnecessarily running up your heating bill this winter:
DO resist the urge to turn your thermostat up too high. For a majority of the year, we do not use our heating system. But, when the cold weather hits, our immediate reaction is to jack up the thermostat. Turning our thermostats up higher will NOT heat our home faster. Our thermostat cannot adjust how quickly it heats our home. It can only bring on the heat and keep it running until the set temperature has been satisfied.
DON'T ignore air leaks and drafts. When temperatures plunge, our first priority is heating our home. You need to take it a step further and ensure that your warm air stays in and the cold air stays out. Seal up air leaks and drafts around doors, windows, chimneys, electrical outlets, etc. to prevent heat loss.
DON'T expect more out of your heating system than it is capable of doing. When the outside temps drop, your heating system will already be under a lot of stress. It will be doing all it can to keep you warm. If you find yourself continually adjusting the thermostat to reach higher temps and nothing changes, you may need a repair, maintenance, or new heating system.
DO lock your windows. Obviously, we all remember to close our windows during colder weather, but we don't always remember to lock the latch. Locking your windows helps produce a nice, tight seal that keeps warm air in and cold air out.
DON'T let your house get too cold. Rather than turning your system off at night and then cranking up the heat when you wake up, try adjusting the set temperature by 2-5 degrees lower instead. This will allow you to save money and avoid a potential breakdown due to being overworked.
DON'T use your fireplace or space heaters as your primary heat source. As cozy as it may be, using your fireplace or space heaters continuously can actually cost you more money on your heating bill.
DON'T neglect routine maintenance. Even if your system seems to working just fine, if it hasn't been cleaned and checked in a long time, call Helms Heating & Air to come out and take a look. Our technicians can find all of the little problems that prevent your system from achieving maximum efficiency and fix them before they worsen.
Helms Heating & Air Conditioning of Indian Trail has resources readily available to answer your questions, schedule a service or maintenance appointment, and provide a free estimate to replace your old, inefficient furnace. Our team has been providing quality and affordable service to Charlotte, North Carolina and the surrounding areas since 1979.