With the colder weather settling in, the last thing you want to have to worry 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, it may not be that easy, and there are a few items that could be occurring in your home that could end up with you scheduling furnace repair or an unnecessary increase in your utility costs.
There are several causes for an increase in your energy bill, but we will share some of the most common reasons.
- 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, the indoor air becomes cooler. An option to help minimize that impact is to make sure you’re closing 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 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, which forces your furnace to work harder to keep up, and could eventually harm your furnace. 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 – it’s not always easy to tell by just taking a quick look if there are large gaps. Be sure to thoroughly look at all of your windows and doors to determine whether you need to add weather stripping to take care of those gaps. Just like it is with attic insulation, window and door gaps can make your furnace work harder, making the possibility of furnace repair later even greater.
These are just a few tips to help you determine any potential problem areas in your house that could cause heat loss. If you’d like to speak with our professionals about your furnace or indoor comfort, give us a call at 812-663-7252.