As the temps continue to get cooler, the last thing you should have anxiety over is keeping a comfortable home. It would be great to be lounging around on the couch enjoying the cozy warmth of your home and not even concerned with the cold temps. Of course, it typically doesn’t happen that way, and there are a few things that could be occurring in your home that could end up with you scheduling furnace repair or a higher than normal energy bill.
There are a number of 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 – when the warm air in your home reaches windows that are cold from the outdoor air, that air loses some of its 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 opening drapes on windows receiving light during the day.
- Lack of attic insulation – with older homes there’s a likelihood that there is a lack of insulation. This means you could be losing heat through your attic, which forces your furnace to work harder to keep up, and could 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 that’s the case, you’ll likely want to add some more insulation.
- Gaps in windows and doors – it’s not always easy to tell by just taking a quick look if there are large gaps. Take a closer look at all of your windows and doors to decide whether weather stripping is needed 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.
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 270-358-3167.