With the colder weather settling in, the last thing you need to be concerned about is sustaining a comfortable home. Preferably, you would be spending the winter enjoying the comfort of your home and not worrying about the colder weather outside. Of course, it may not be that easy, and there are a few issues 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 a rise in your energy expenses, but these are three of the more common ones we typically hear about at.
- 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, the indoor air becomes cooler. An option to help minimize that impact is to make sure you’ve closed 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 – if your home is older, there’s a chance that there is a lack of 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. It’s not hard to determine if you have enough insulation, take a look and see if the insulation is below or even with the joists. When the insulation is even or below the joists, it’s likely your attic needs some additional 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 you need to add weather stripping to take care of those gaps. Similar to attic insulation, window and door gaps can require your heating system to work harder, potentially upping the chance that you’ll need furnace repair.
Hopefully, these tips help you determine any potential issues in your home that impacts your comfort. If you have any questions about furnaces, furnace repair or other ways to combat heat-loss, give us a call at 641-316-9803.