As the temps continue to get cooler, the last thing you want to have to worry about is keeping a comfortable home. Preferably, you would be spending the winter enjoying the comfort of your home and not thinking twice about what’s taking place outside. Of course, it may not be that easy, and there are a few issues that could be occurring in your home that might result in a need for furnace repair or a higher than normal energy bill.
There are a number of causes for an increase in your energy bill, 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, that air loses some of its heat. An option to help minimize that impact is to make sure you’ve closed your drapes during the evening hours and only opening drapes on windows receiving light during the day.
- Lack of attic insulation – if you live in an older home there’s a chance 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 might eventually lead to the need for a 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 it is, 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 decide whether weather stripping is needed take care of those gaps. Just like it is with attic insulation, window and door gaps can make your furnace work harder, increasing the chance of furnace repair down the line.
These are just a few tips to help you determine any potential problem areas in your house that could cause heat loss. If you have any questions about furnaces, furnace repair or other ways to combat heat-loss, give us a call at 956-630-3522.