Furnaces are running high right now, and for many homeowners, they’d be happy if they can just get through the winter safely and securely. While this is always going to be the number one priority, what if we told you that you can also make it through the winter with low utility bills and a better budget?
Now that we’ve got your attention, we’d like to talk about some ways that you can improve the quality and efficiency of your furnace system right now. Sure, you can call us for heating repair in Brampton, ON and we strongly advise you do that if you’ve got a problem, but some homeowners don’t have obvious issues. We want to focus on some best practices that homeowners all throughout our community can do to lower utility costs, improve the comfort of their home, and help their furnace systems last longer.
Avoid the need for repairs by following this advice!
1. Change Your Air Filter
First things first, changing your air filter every few months is a must. This is something that professionals shouldn’t really do because it needs to be done very often. We actually encourage homeowners to change out their air filters every 1-3 months because of how simple of a process it is and how easy it is to learn.
Why do you need to change the air filter? Well, the air filter is a component that’s integral to the functionality and efficiency of your furnace.
- When your air filter is cleaned, it will provide fresh air to your furnace so that it can operate safely and efficiently.
- When the filter is clogged and dirty, your furnace could have trouble running properly, start overheating, and it could start using more fuel to provide the same level of heat.
Basically, changing your filter on a regular basis ensures your system runs as effectively as possible.
2. Insulate Your Home and Bundle Up
Once the heat is created by your furnace, the new name of the game is keeping that hot air inside your house throughout the winter. The more you open doors, windows, and leave areas of your house exposed, the more likely you are to feel chilly and your furnace will run for longer.
Try to take a walk through your house and identify areas of improvement. If you feel drafty breezes, or notice an area of your home that’s a “work in progress” but letting in cold air, then your furnace is going to need help.
3. Ensure Maximum Airflow
You likely have air vents scattered throughout the rooms of your home that help distribute heat. Through the holiday shuffle, you might place a set of decorations, move some furniture, or inevitably cover up one of these vents thinking that the air will still move into the room through another vent.
The truth is that while your home will still have some heat, it won’t be heated as effectively or efficiently when you cover up vents, either accidentally or on purpose. Your heating system relies on all the vents in your home to provide you with comfortable temperatures, so leave them open or use a vent extender if you really need to place furniture somewhere.