As the temps continue to get cooler, the last thing you should have anxiety over is keeping a comfortable home. Preferably, you would be spending the winter enjoying the comfort of your home and not thinking twice about what’s taking place outside. Of course, it typically doesn’t happen that way, and there are a few issues that could be happening in your home that may require furnace repair or trying to figure out why your bill is so high.
There are a number of causes for higher utility bills, but we will share some of the most common reasons.
- 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. An option to help minimize that impact is to make sure you’ve closed 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 you live in an older home there’s a likelihood that it doesn’t have enough insulation. This means you could be losing heat through your attic, causing your heating system to work harder than necessary, and may 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. When the insulation is even or below the joists, 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 determine whether it requires weather stripping to take care of those gaps. Just like it is with attic insulation, window and door gaps can force your furnace 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 have any questions about furnaces, furnace repair or other ways to combat heat-loss, give us a call at 361-214-1203.