5 Mistakes You May Be Making With Your Furnace In Downriver Michigan

One major expense here in Michigan during the winter is heating costs. With temperatures that routinely get below freezing having a furnace to keep your home comfortable is crucial. And the energy that it takes to power that furnace can lead to high energy bills especially during colder months. Having a furnace in Downriver Michigan that is energy efficient can help to decrease some of those energy costs but there are some mistakes that you may be making that end up costing you more energy. Here are some tips to help get more out of your furnace and heating system.

5 Mistakes You May Be Making with Your Furnace In Downriver Michigan

One of the biggest problems when it comes to heating your home that many home owners make is that they rely on other forms of heating as well as the furnace of their homes. This is usually done by using space heaters in areas of the home that are more frequented by people. A few extra space heaters around your home can cause your energy costs to skyrocket, not to mention you’re still using the furnace which also uses energy. Most small space heaters use about $3 per day in energy, with higher wattage heaters that can double or triple that. Instead of using these space heaters, there are heating alternatives that you can have installed which can help. This is just one mistake that you can make when it comes to heating your home. We’ve included more below:

When You Have Drafts and Gaps in Your Home

Drafty windows don’t just give you a chill when you’re sitting by one, it also causes your home to lose the warm air that your furnace is producing. It also introduces more cold air in the home. Make sure the weather stripping around any doors are in good shape. You can also check around other areas of the home which may allow cold air into the home. It’s best to stop all drafts and fill in any gaps which allow air to escape.

Turning Up the Thermostat Often

Sometimes when it gets a bit chilly outside family members like to crank up the thermostat to get warm quicker and make their gas furnace blast out heat. Doing this can cause the furnace to come on full blast but that doesn’t mean it will warm up faster as often furnaces that are on produce the same amount of heat it just doesn’t stay on as long. What’s worse is you may not turn the temperature back down causing the furnace to continually run using a lot of energy.

Not Having a Programmable Thermostat Installed

One of the best ways to make your furnace more energy efficient is to have a programmable thermostat. During the day when the home is empty it makes little sense to run the furnace as if there were people present. Instead, dropping the temperature during times when the home is empty can save a lot on energy costs. The best way to do this is by installing a programmable thermostat in the home.

Closing Off Vents

A common misconception about heating your home is that some people think that closing off vents will save energy. In some cases it will, while in other cases it can put your system at risk. Closing off vents can cause the pressure in the ducts to increase which may lead to air leaking from the ducts, increased loads on fans and blowers, and restrictions to the air flow of the system.

Not Changing Air Filters

Another way your furnace can have restricted air flow is by the air filter getting clogged. A clogged air filter will restrict air flow which causes fans and other components to use more energy and produce more internal heat which can cause them to fail. Changing your air filters and having your system properly maintained can help ensure it lasts a long time and doesn’t use more energy.

Get Proper Maintenance Done on Your Heating System

Having a furnace that is well maintained will perform better and use less energy. If it’s been a while since your heating system was inspected and maintenance performed be sure to call Superior Comfort HVAC today at (734) 818-7141 for service. We can inspect and maintain your heating system so it’s ready for the cold weather ahead.