As the temps continue to get cooler, the last thing you need to be concerned about is sustaining a comfortable home. In an ideal world, you would be able to relax in a warm home and not thinking twice about what’s taking place outside. Of course, things don’t work 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 trying to figure out why your bill is so high.
There are several causes for higher utility bills, but these are three of the more common ones we typically hear about at.
- 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. To help reduce the effect that the glass has on your cozy home, make sure you’ve closed 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 you live in an older home there’s a possibility that there is insufficient insulation. This means you could be losing heat through your attic, which forces your furnace to work harder to keep up, and could eventually harm your furnace. 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. 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. Be sure to thoroughly look at all of your windows and doors to establish whether you need to add weather stripping to take care of those gaps. As we mentioned with attic insulation, window and door gaps can require your heating system to work harder, making the possibility of furnace repair later even greater.
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 510-343-9841.