HEATING SERVICES
As one of the most important investments and pieces of equipment in your home, it pays to keep track of just how efficiently and effectively your warm air oil or natural gas furnace is running. You need to know when to replace it before it costs you more in repairs than a new purchase or if it becomes unsafe. A comfortable and healthy home environment requires an energy-efficient and safe heating system—one that heats the home without using large amounts of energy and that doesn’t endanger the indoor air quality.
If your oil or natural gas furnace is 12 years old or younger and has been properly maintained, you shouldn’t need to worry about replacing your unit just yet. Instead, you should spend some time and money to improve the energy-efficiency in other areas of your home and ensure that you perform regular, proper maintenance of your furnace to keep it lasting longer.
Things You Can Do to Save on Your Heating Costs
If your oil or natural gas furnace is 12 years old or younger and has been properly maintained, you shouldn’t need to worry about replacing your unit just yet. Instead, you should spend some time and money to improve the energy-efficiency in other areas of your home and ensure that you perform regular, proper maintenance of your furnace to keep it lasting longer.
Things You Can Do to Save on Your Heating Costs
- Set your thermostat as low as possible. The lower the setting, the lower the costs.
- At bedtime or when no one is home, turn your thermostat down 5°–10°.
- After baking or using your oven, leave the oven door open a crack. This will warm your kitchen and surrounding rooms.
- During the day, keep draperies, curtains, and blinds/shades open to south facing windows. This lets in heat from the sun’s rays.
- Caulk and weather-strip all windows and doors.
- Close all draperies, curtains, and blinds/shades at night.
- If you have a fireplace, make sure it has a tight fitting flue damper and that it’s in the closed position.
- Clean or replace filters once a month.
- If you don’t have them, consider installing ceiling fans with reversible motors. Fans push warm air that collects a ceiling level back down into the room.
- Install a whole home humidifier to prevent dryness and static electricity.
- Dress warmly inside or cuddle up with a blanket.
- Cold feet can make your body feel cold. Make it a point of wearing socks around the house.
- Don’t use bathroom or kitchen fans when not needed.
- Throw a party! The more people in a room, the warmer it will be.