Getting Burned by your Heat Bill?

Is your heating bill becoming increasingly expensive? Generally there are two areas to look at. Firstly, look at the efficiency of your HVAC system including furnace, duct work, insulation, and thermostat. Secondly, look at heat loss factors coming from sources outside of HVAC system such windows & doors. Heat loss will prompt you to turn up their furnace to stay warm or result in the furnace having to work harder to maintain the desired temperature. Below are a few suggestions to cut your heating bill.

HVAC Systems

1. Annual maintenance of your Furnace is required to maintain some warranties, and this will usually cost at least $100. A well-tuned furnace will not only reduce heating bills, but will also extend the life of your furnace.

2. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat install one, and reduce the temperature when you’re not at home or sleeping.

3. Take a look at exposed duct work in the attic and basement and look for poor connections and holes. Use mastic sealant or metal tape over leaks to seal them. The average forced air system loses more than 20 percent of the air that moves through the system.

4. Check to see if you attic access door is insulated and that it forms a good seal. This is a common issue.

Heat Loss

1. Look for damaged weather stripping around doors and windows. Research suggests approximately 10 percent of a home’s heat loss occurs around windows and doors.

2. If you can see daylight under your front door then you should adjust your threshold to eliminate the gap.

3. Look for other exterior holes for pipes, gas lines, electrical cables etc. The caulking might be poor or have cracked and or peeled off.

4. Examine electrical boxes on exterior walls and check if there is insulation. You want to eliminate the air flowing around them. Look to fill the gaps with caulk or sealant and put a foam gasket over the outlet.

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