When the winter season first arrives, all you need to do is set your thermostat to the desired temperature and your home starts to get warm, but that completely changes as colder winter months come around.
The bills get higher and the heating unit doesn’t work as well as it should, but why? The reason is that most people don’t know how to keep their house warm the correct way.
Here are some of the biggest mistakes homeowners make that you should avoid this winter.
Turning the Thermostat Way Down At Night
Though initially, it may seem like a good idea to turn your thermostat down before you sleep to save a few bucks, it ends up costing you even more. Because when you wake up in the freezing cold morning and crank the thermostat up, it will take a lot more energy and work for it to warm your space again.
This can also cause most heating units to fail or break down after a while. Ideally, you should never go lower than 1 or 2 degrees at night.
Cranking Up the Heating System Too Much
In most cases, heating systems only heat efficiently when the outside temperature stays above zero degrees. So, when it reaches extreme lows, they don’t seem to work at all no matter how high you adjust the thermostat.
If that’s the case, then it’s a big indication that your heating system needs a repair or upgrade. If buying a newer high-efficiency heating system is out of your budget then get Gas Heater Repair from a professional HVAC technician.
Neglecting to Change the Air Filter
The air filter is one of the most essential parts of an HVAC system. A dust-filled air filter will not only slowly damage the unit but also restrict airflow and make it less efficient at heating. This leaves you with poor indoor air quality, higher energy consumption, and increased utility costs.
Professionals recommend changing the air filter at least once every three months to expand the unit’s lifespan, increase efficiency, and keep your air clean for those with asthma or severe allergies.
Blocking Sunlight During the Day
Even though it may seem like there’s not much sunlight in winter, it can actually benefit you significantly. Keeping the furnace on at all times isn’t a good idea, so give it some rest in the morning and take in natural heat from the sunlight.
Make sure you draw back your curtains and keep your windows clean. Dust and dirt can often prevent heat from entering homes, resulting in higher cost bills.
Avoiding Regular Maintenance and Repair
All heating and air conditioning systems have complex parts that need to be cleaned, checked, and maintained after a certain period of use. They won’t be able to work efficiently and will use more energy if their components don’t work well.That is why it is vital to schedule annual inspections to fix problems before they become major issues. There are plenty of services that provide 24/7 emergency AC repair in case something goes wrong.