With the colder weather settling in, the last thing you want to have to worry about is maintaining a comfortable home. In an ideal world, you would be able to relax in a warm home and not worrying about the colder weather outside. Of course, things don’t work that way, and there are a few items that could be taking place in your home that could end up with you scheduling furnace repair or trying to figure out why your bill is so high.
There are a number of causes for a rise in your energy expenses, but we will share some of the most common reasons.
- 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, it impacts the indoor air by reducing some of the heat. One way to help reduce the loss of heat is to make sure you’re closing 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 – 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 forces your furnace to work harder to keep up, and could 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. When the insulation is even or below the joists, 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. Be sure to thoroughly look at all of your windows and doors to decide whether you need to add weather stripping to take care of those gaps. As we mentioned with attic insulation, window and door gaps can force your furnace 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’d like to speak with our professionals about your furnace or indoor comfort, give us a call at 479-308-8176.