Home Improvements

HVAC Companies: 5 Things You Should Know When Using The Furnace

When you looking to keep yourself warm during the cold season, you need to properly use the furnace. Here are some of the things you should know as given by HVAC companies:

Don’t close the vents and registers

Many people have the notion that by closing the vents and registers, they will save a lot of energy, but this isn’t the case. You should note that most of the modern homes use the forced-air heating systems that have the capability of detecting and balancing the pressure levels in each room. This ensures that the furnace distributes heat evenly.

When you close the vents and registers, you disturb the balance as you trigger the furnace to work harder in order to equalize the pressure. This not only leads to an increase in the amount of energy used, it also reduces the life of the furnace.

For you to save some energy and keep the furnace in top working condition all the time, you should keep the vents and registers open all the time. This calls for you to get rid of any furniture, rugs, books, and clothes that might block the vents and registers.

Insulate the windows

Did you know that you can save a lot of energy when you insulate the windows? When you stand next to a traditional window, you will notice that it tends to feel cold during winter and warm during summer.

This is usually due to heat transfers. During the fall and winter, un-insulated windows allow a lot of heat to escape the house and cool air to enter. This forces the furnace to work harder hence consuming a lot of energy. The unit also tends to have a short life.

You should keep more of the warm air in the house by insulating the windows. You only need to install a low-emissivity film on the windows. Ensure that the film has reflective properties.

If you have a large budget, consider upgrading the traditional windows to double or even triple pane windows. When installing the windows, ensure that they are installed by an expert.

Watch the thermostat settings

You need to be cautious of how you set your thermostat. Some people have the notion that by setting the thermostat at a high temperature, they will heat the house faster. There is nothing that is further from the truth than this.

You should note that furnaces heat spaces at the same rate, regardless of the temperature that you set the thermostat. When you set the thermostat at a high setting, the only thing you will have is a warm house. You won’t heat the house faster than normal.

Many people make the mistake of cranking up their thermostat settings with the hope that their houses will warm up fast. Don’t do this. Instead, set the thermostat at your desired temperature and the house will warm up slowly until you reach your ideal temperature.

Keep the thermostat settings low at night

While it’s unwise to raise the thermostat settings with the hope of warming up the house faster, there is nothing wrong with lowering the settings especially at night. When you are in bed and covering yourself, you don’t need a lot of heat.

You should maximize your energy savings by keeping the temperature settings around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. For you to have an easy time controlling the temperature in your home, invest in a programmable thermostat.

You should note that lowering the temperature doesn’t make the furnace work harder than it should. As long as there isn’t a high demand for heat in the house, lowering the settings will save you a lot of energy in the long run.

A high-efficiency furnace isn’t the solution to everything

When many people are having issues with their furnaces, they only think about replacing them. You should note that you don’t have to always replace the furnace with a better version for you to save energy.

There are plenty of other ways to increase the efficiency of your unit:

  • Sealing the doors and windows
  • Hiring a heating service repair Falls Church professional to undertake ductwork inspections
  • Sealing any cracks that might be on the exterior and interior walls
  • Installing high-efficiency window units to prevent heat transfer.

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