Winter is the most expensive season to maintain a comfortable home. The harsh chilly conditions force us to rely on furnaces to keep our homes warm. However, running the furnaces isn’t always a cakewalk. Aside from having to go to sites like https://airmaxsc.com/heating-service/ to get them serviced frequently, there are certain aspects to heating that can really make a difference. Without them, it can make the season even more stringent due to notoriously high bills. Fortunately, there are a couple of diagnoses, if appropriately completed, that can revert our heating needs to normalcy.
Read below on some of the biggest reasons our heating bill is too high.
Seasonal Changes
As it gets colder outside, we want to be warmer inside our homes. As a result, we tend to set our thermostats higher than normal. This seems like a strategic way of maintaining the heat at a comfortable level, but it ends up overworking the furnace. The solution to this problem is lowering the thermostat at least one or two degrees. It might seem less comfortable, but it will, in return, save us a few dollars. If the furnace is overworked too much, it might break meaning you need to arrange with a company to fix it. Luckily, HVAC companies work with furnaces, visit this link (https://burichvac.com/columbia-heating/furnace-repair/) to find out more about furnace repair and whether you might need to double check yours.
Damaged Insulation
In a poorly insulated room, over 35 percent of heat is lost to the atmosphere through vents, leaky windows, and drafty doors. Due to the leakage, we may be forced to run our heater at higher temperatures to maintain comfortable heat levels. We will also be required to run the heater longer; therefore, increasing our heating bill significantly. To solve this problem, we will need an HVAC expert to properly analyze our home and check additional insulation services.
Inefficient Furnace
Another big reason for expensive heating bills is our furnace not working as required. For optimal functioning, it requires regular servicing or replacement if it’s old. The average lifespan of a furnace is 25 years past, which it becomes inefficient. Though replacing it has a massive upfront cost, it can help save more than 20 percent of our energy consumption. However, if this seems difficult for us, routine maintenance can offer a solution. All we need is getting a professional for an extensive diagnosis of the worn-out parts, dirt, and rust, similar to this furnace repair provider in Portsmouth.
Thermostat Issues
A thermostat is an essential thing in our heating system. It functions as the regulator to our heating needs. This means it can impact our heating bills both positively and negatively, depending on how we monitor it. For optimal functioning, it is advisable to run the thermostat down between 8 to 10 . The monitoring task seems an additional duty to many, but investing in a modern heating system can help solve the problem. This modern system comes with a programmable thermostat, which makes heat adjustments easier and accessible from anywhere. These thermostats and system may require additional maintenance by using reputable and professional teams such as this one you can find at https://sharpplumbing.com/services/heating/ or a similar website.
Leakage in the Ductwork
A forced-air heating system commonly causes leakage in the ductwork. The duct is accessible from the basement or attic of our heating system. The good thing is, we can self-diagnose the problem by seeing, feeling, and listening for air leaks from the duct. If there is any sign of leakage, then automatically, it is the reason behind our inflated bills.
Continuous Running of the Blower
Whenever I notice that my blower operates continuously, I check the thermostat’s fan switch to ensure that it’s not turned on. If the control is off, but the blower still runs, then there’s a problem with the fan’s relay mechanism. The fan relay turns on the blower when the thermostat requires heat. If the fan relay is faulty, the blower doesn’t shut off. We can contact an HVAC expert to help us diagnose the problem.
Wear and Tear of Mechanical Components
Our HVAC system relies on several components whose wear and tear can negatively impact its overall performance. These include coils, belts and bearings, fuses, wires and terminals, refrigerant, thermostats, and igniters. We must always check the condition of these components as we conduct regular maintenance.
Dirty Filters
Does the HVAC system take much longer to cool the house? If yes, probably it has dirty air filters. Dirty air filters hinder airflow and make the system work a lot harder to circulate the air. This strains our furnace blow, resulting in comfort issues. Keeping our filters clean is an easy maintenance practice that goes a long way in maximizing our HVAC system’s longevity and reducing the energy bill.
Most of these heater problems are easy to note and self-diagnose. However, fixing them requires HVAC experts to help avoid further damages to our system. With this guide, homeowners now know where to start or what to check in case of inflated heating bills.
