Our very own heating contractor explains to us how important it is to maintain the heat that you are using for your home. Managing your heat properly will allow you to cut down on the cost of your heating bill and energy waste. If it feels like you might be turning up the heat too often in your home, then you and your family might be suffering from a few simple yet far too common causes of home heating loss. Something as simple as small drafts of cold air from an open window can cause your home to lose heat, creating a long-term furnace inefficiency, increase the chances of someone in your family catching a cold, and more discomfort during the cold weather season. So how can you overcome a large heating bill? Well with these tips of course!
Why Should You Choose P.W. Essig?
First and foremost, P.W. Essig offers the most dependable heating service in the area. We train our heating contractors who are fully licensed and able to handle any heating service concerns. No homeowner will never have to worry when it comes to heating service from P.W. Essig because we value our customers and their homes. If you suspect something is wrong with your home heating system, then do not hesitate to call us, since our immediate service will be quick to handle any situation.
Whether it is furnace installation, repairs on any type heating system, or maintenance on your home’s heating supplies, P.W. Essig’s heating contractors will be able to take care, allowing you to relax and live in comfort knowing your home is in good hands. Allow us to make the winter season more manageable and trust us to do the job right, with our longer-lasting, highly-efficient heating system for all homeowners.
Open Doors and Windows
The first reason why your home might be losing heat is because you’re leaving doors or windows open, which accounts for about 10-11% of all heating loss each year. Be sure to repair spaces in your home before the winter season arrives, and check for any weather stripping such as patching up any windows or doors that need closure before you have your heat working. Check your window and glass screens as well and if you need to, replace them if they’re not fully secure, including possible dents or other openings of your home’s exterior.
Electrical Outlets
As odd as it may seem, cold air can actually seep through electrical sockets, which causes a 2% loss of heat. Not every electrical outlet is in plain view either, so make sure to check more than once when entering all the rooms within your home. Check outlets for cool air and if you feel cool air coming in, then you might have a problem. To fix it, install foam gaskets to block the cold air that is causing the cold draft.
Basements
Checking your entire basement for leaks from either vents or fans can save you up to 4% of household heating loss during the winter season. Basements tend to go unnoticed and sometimes they may go unused for long periods of time, so it’s highly suggested that you conduct a thorough investigation before turning on your heat. However, if you are unable to check your basement fans or vents yourself, professional heating companies such as us are always available to review and repair any leakage prior to wintertime.
Recessed Lighting
Another surprising case of home heating loss is recessed lighting, which is responsible for about 13% of heating loss. Recessed lighting in your home and ceiling can be damaging not only for your home but for your budgeting plan. Luckily, it can be resolved with effective weather stripping so that you can properly prepare for the cold weather season.
Air Conditioners
Throughout these recent years, it seems like winter has been arriving a lot sooner than expected. So when the warm summer heat decides to leave us, don’t wait around begging for it to come back like a bad break up and instead, move on and prepare for winter by removing your air conditioning units. If you still have air conditioners in your home as the weather cools down, cold air can actually run through your home freely throughout your home and moves faster especially when the heat is running. Some homeowners decide to leave their window air conditioner units throughout an entire year. However, we highly suggest you don’t, since cool air drafts will develop in your home and throughout the surrounding areas of the air conditioning unit.
Ceiling Openings
Ceiling openings are definitely a huge heating loss problem for a lot of homeowners. 31% of heat loss is from ceiling openings, leaks, or cracks in your walls or floors. Replacing ceiling tiles, insulating all the rooms in your home, and sealing any leaks or cracks that you find with your walls can help greatly. This way, you’re cutting down the cost of energy waste and your home’s heat usage. Preparing for the winter season is important, which is why our heating contractor suggests checking your roof before the season begins. This way, you’re able to identify any openings that you might have missed in year’s past that could have very well affected your heating bill. Also, if you wanted to stay even further ahead of the curve, look at the attic insulation within your home, especially if you haven’t done so in a couple of years.
Fireplaces
Fireplaces are always great during the winter season, especially for those cold and frigid nights. Nevertheless, it needs an inspection to avoid any costly mistakes. If you do in fact have a fireplace in your home, check it before turning on your heat. When your fireplace is improperly installed you allow cold air to run through and out of the chimney freely, costing you more in heating bills without even feeling the heat for yourself.
Don’t fight the bitter cold or pay more for it, rather keep your family warm during the winter season – contact P.W. Essig today and talk to our trusted heating contractor for heating service needs!
