Thursday, September 4, 2014

Are You Ready For Winter? Is Your Heating System?

Winter is fast approaching.  That means cooler temperatures and higher utility bills.  Make sure your heating system is ready this winter.  Here are a few tips to ensure your system is running properly.
1.  Schedule a routine maintenance on your heating system to ensure that the system is running at optimal levels and functioning efficiently and safely.  A little prevention now could save you a lot of money and headaches later. 
2.  Change your air filter regularly.  This will ensure proper air flow for optimal efficiency and cleaner indoor air quality.  You will be spending more time inside with the drop in temperatures so make sure you are breathing clean air this winter.
3.  Update your thermostat to ensure that your system is heating at the proper levels.  Older thermostats that use mercury can be very inaccurate and their calibrations may vary which leads to your furnace outputting more heat than may be called for.  This unnecessary usage of electricity increases your utility bills each month.  Consider replacing your old thermostat with a new digital thermostat.  Digital thermostats are more accurate and can be programmed so you can set your heating to go on before you wake up or return home, and can be automatically turned off when you leave for work.
4. Clean your heating ducts periodically to allow efficient heating and provide fresh, clean air. Be sure to routinely inspect your heating ducts to make sure there are no punctures, dents or disconnected parts. Damaged or dirty ducts can raise your heating bills by blowing wasted warm air and restricting air flow.