Central Heating – A Key Piece of Our Winter Nights
Let’s face it – we all lean on our heater during the winter months (some do it throughout other months of the season as well, depending on location). Nevertheless, our central heating is a key component in our comfort through the holiday season and beyond for some. There are things about our furnaces and/or heat pumps that we do take for granted or don’t understand. Being equipped with knowledge of your heating system will only help ensure its longevity and usefulness to you. Let’s take a look further at some of the most commonly overlooked things about heating to get you better equipped for the upcoming winter season.
My Furnace Only Needs Maintenance If It Isn’t Working
The saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” often guides our decisions. However, considering a minor furnace repair while the system is still operational can lead to significant cost savings in the long run. Delaying repairs may seem economical at first, but it can ultimately result in higher expenses when the issue worsens and necessitates more extensive, costly repairs. Over time, the wear and tear that furnaces and heat pumps go through should be looked at (typically once per year). In essence, addressing problems promptly can save you both time and money in the grand scheme of things.
Closing Unused Vents Is Adding to System Efficiency
Many people think that closing a vent will help a specific room stay warmer or save energy, but this is not true. When you close a vent, your furnace has to work harder and less efficiently. It’s designed to distribute heat evenly throughout your home, even with vents closed. Closing vents can cause problems like leaky ducts and damaged parts in your heating system, leading to higher energy bills and a shorter lifespan for your furnace and ducts.
Instead, it’s better to keep your vents open and let the air flow freely throughout your home. If one room is too warm, you can partially close the vent to improve comfort without causing problems.
If your furnace always struggles to keep your home comfortable, it might be a good idea to have an HVAC technician check it out. Your system might need repairs, or if it’s getting old (usually around 15 to 20 years), it might be time for a new furnace installation. Regular maintenance can help prolong your system’s anywhere up to 50% of the projected lifespan.
Cranking Your Thermostat Higher Will Heat Your Home Faster
Unfortunately, our central heating units do not function like a microwave, and turning the setting up to a much higher number doesn’t provide any extra advantage. Say for instance, you are at 68 degrees, and set it to 84, when you really want to be around 73 degrees. Most heating systems are designed to distribute heat at a set rate/pace, so that 84 degree setting will still be achieved but in a longer amount of time. It won’t reach the ideal 73 any faster than if you set your thermostat to 73 degrees originally. This will eliminate the need of you trying to micromanage the heating system and setting it to a higher temp then trying to level it off to where you really want to be. Ironically, setting it to the higher temperatures will only increase your energy and heating bills, and overheat your living space.
Conclusion: Understanding Your Heating is Very Important
Saving money on heating is something that we all want to do, and in that battle, knowledge will always be the best weapon. Being equipped of the pitfalls of efficient use of your unit, along with having check ups on a yearly cadence will save you a lot of cost in the long run. An efficiently tuned furnace is not only going to operate better but live longer, so it is definitely in your best interest to keep it maintained. If you are looking at where to get started with maintaining your unit, something we highly recommend is the Omni Air yearly maintenance plan, providing you year round coverage for both your heating AND cooling systems. Considering how much preventative maintenance can be advantageous for your unit, $250 a year is nothing compared to part replacement costs or even the dreaded cost of a full unit replacement (Around $7000). We hoped to have provided you some valuable takeaways and raised some awareness into the importance of upkeep of your heating unit.
