As the temps continue to get cooler, the last thing you need to be concerned about is maintaining a comfortable home. It would be great to be lounging around on the couch enjoying the cozy warmth of your home and not thinking twice about what’s taking place outside. Of course, it typically doesn’t happen that way, and there are a few issues that could be taking place in your home that might result in a need for furnace repair or a higher than normal energy bill.
There are several 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 – when hot air comes in to contact with cold glass on your windows, 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 it doesn’t have enough insulation. This means you could be losing heat through your attic, causing your heating system to work harder than necessary, and could eventually result in furnace repair. When you go to check out your attic’s insulation, you’ll want to see if the insulation is even or below the joists. If that’s the case, it’s likely your attic needs some additional insulation.
- Gaps in windows and doors – sometimes these gaps are more obvious and visible to the naked eye or large enough to feel drafts coming in, but sometimes that may not be the case. Take a closer look at all of your windows and doors to determine 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, increasing the chance of furnace repair down the line.
We hope these three tips can help you identify any problem-spaces in your home that could be inhibiting the comfort of your home. Our experts are available to answer any of your questions about furnaces, repair or indoor comfort, give us a call at 770-450-1539.