The winter months are right around the corner and you want to make sure that you are choosing some simple techniques that will keep your home as warm as possible. When it gets really cold, you have to worry about the heating bill, whether you are using gas or electricity, and you may worry about how much it can eat into your budget if you are not careful. One method is to look at lowering the temperature of your home, but there is only so much that this will work if you have a home that is really leaking heat and making it cold.
Many people assume that there is something wrong with their furnace and heating system when they start to see that utility bill or that the utility company is raising the rates yet again. It is possible that your HVAC system is struggling to keep up, and having a professional come and take a closer look can make a big difference. They may be able to find some potential problems with the heater or furnace and can make some simple fixes that will get it running more efficiently and save you money.
But sometimes, it has more to do with your home and some of the sneaky ways that your home is leaking heat that could be the problem. If there are a lot of areas in the home that allow for heat loss, then it is almost impossible for the heater to keep up, no matter how good it is. Knowing some of the common areas of heat loss in a home and then finding ways to cut that off can help keep you warm. Let’s take a look at what these common areas are.
Common Areas of Heat Loss
As your home gets older, you have to worry about some of those sneaky ways that the heat is getting out and causing some problems for you. Your furnace can only work so hard if there are a lot of places where the heat is getting out, such as your windows and doors. Some of the common areas where heat can get out of your home includes:
- Cracks in the frame or the pane of the window. Depending on where these are located, you may be able to use some insulation or some caulk to help seal them up and make it harder for the cold air to get in while you are resting. If there are some cracks in the window pane, then it may be time to consider whether having them replaced is the best option to use.
- Gapes that happen between the door and the frame: There are some different options that will help with this. This is a common issue if you are dealing with an older home that has shifted a bit. If it is under or over the door that the gap is present, then there are some tools that you will be able to use to help seal it up, such as a product that goes right on there.
- Gaps that show up between the window frame and the wall: This one is a little harder to work on, but there is some insulation or other products that you will be able to use. Weatherstripping is a good idea, caulking, or even some foam tape. If the gap gets really big, then hiring someone to replace the window or the frame can help.
- Spaces that show up between the door and the floor. This is another place where some weatherstripping will make a difference.
- Spaces that show up between the sash and the frame for your windows.
- It is possible that some weatherstripping is already present in your home around the windows or the doors. If it is damaged or worn down though, then this tool is not going to be able to do the work that you would like. You can tear that part out and then get some more to replace it.
Depending on the age of your home, you may find that more than one of these areas is causing you some problems. You may have a few windows that are letting in the cold air, a few doors that are the biggest problem, or a combination of them both. The more areas that you see this problem coming up, the harder your furnace is going to need to work in order to handle the problem and get things back on track and warm.
Take the time to walk around the home and see where some of the major issues are located. Take note of what is wrong and where and then determine the best way to handle it and see if you can get it fixed. Foam tape can be a good option if you see some gaps that are irregularly shaped, and caulking can be good for those windows that you are not going to open up again until spring. For some of the doors that you still want to open and close during the winter, weatherstripping is going to make a difference. By making a few of these changes, you will find that your home will be better insulated and the cold air will not b able to get in.
When you are worried about heating your home and how much it is going to cost, it makes sense to look at ways to limit your heating bill and make the home as comfortable as possible. By sealing up the doors and windows and finding some of the places where the heat is able to get out and the cold air is able to get in can make a big difference. Our team is here to work with you, taking a look at your heating and furnace to make sure that it is going to work the way that you need this winter. DEAR Services Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, and Electrical Repair is here to help you every step of the way, sending out a technician to look over your system and make sure that it is working the way that you would like. Contact a member of our team today to learn more.
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