Simple Ways to Keep Heat Inside the Home
There's nothing like coming home from a long day at work or school during the winter and getting warm and cozy with your loved ones. However, sometimes homeowners notice that their house doesn't seem to be staying as warm as it used to.
When your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is running at peak efficiency but you see that the heating bills are rising without any other explanation, you will want to address the problem head on before it gets much worse. There may be some previously unnoticed drafts in the home or you may have inefficient windows and doors. In some cases, it may be simply a matter of insulating the windows.
Keeping more heat inside your home will not only lower your monthly utility bills, it will also help you reduce your carbon footprint. The less energy you waste because of inefficiencies, the smaller the impact your family will be having on the environment.
Is it Drafty in Here?
Take a tour around your home on both the inside and outside, paying particular attention to rooms or corners where you don't spend as much time. Find any drafts and close the source.
Drafts can come from a variety of sources, including fireplace dampers, the attic's hatch, the place where your dryer vent passes through the wall, window and door frames and gaps around the mail slot.
Examine the Doors and Windows
How "green" is your home? Today's homeowners know the value of using energy efficient doors and windows to cut down on heat escaping unnecessarily. If your home is fairly old and you are using the original windows, chances are that much more efficient units will be available.
After checking the efficiency rating of each door and window, replace those that do a poor job of keeping in the heat. Look for a National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label on doors and windows to ensure that you get ones with the best efficiency ratings.
Don't Forget Insulation
Your home's windows can be a major source of heat leaks. However, you can insulate your windows quickly and efficiency. You can pick up home kits at your local home improvement store and take care of the job yourself.
If you have taken steps to seal off drafts, have double-checked that your doors and windows have good efficiency ratings and have insulated the windows to keep out the cold but find that your home still doesn't seem to be staying as warm as it used to, it might be time to call in professionals to inspect and evaluate the situation.
If you can't remember the last time an HVAC professional visited your home to check out the equipment, you will want to call for service as soon as possible so you can find out what the problem might be.
At David Gray Heating & Air, our expertly trained professionals have been installing, maintaining and upgrading heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems for homeowners in the greater Jacksonville, FL area for more than 25 years now. If you have an issue with your heating system, it's a good idea to have a professional technician inspect the equipment. For details or to arrange for a service appointment, please contact David Gray Heating & Air today.
