With the colder weather settling in, the last thing you need to be concerned about is keeping 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 things 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 an increase in your energy bill, but we are highlighting a few of the more common ones we encounter.
- 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, that air loses some of its heat. To help reduce the effect that the glass has on your cozy home, make sure that you close 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 you live in an older home there’s a possibility that there is a lack of insulation. This means you could be losing heat through your attic, causing your heating system to work harder than necessary, and might 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, you’ll likely want to add some more insulation.
- Gaps in windows and doors – as you are taking a look to see if there are any gaps around your doors or windows, keep in mind that they aren’t always easy to notice. Take a closer look at all of your windows and doors to decide whether weather stripping is needed 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 512-937-2001.