Is there anything like stepping into a warm and cozy house after time spent outside in the winter months? Home heating is a necessity, and although everyone has some form of home heating system, homeowners still come across myths about the best and most efficient ways to keep warm.
With over 40 years of home heating and cooling experience, we at Bears Home Solutions would like to clarify the five most common myths about home heating, so your family (and your budget) can work, play and rest comfortably in your safe and cozy home all winter long.
Myth:
Closing the vents and registers in unused spaces will save power.
Fact: A forced air heating system will need all of the vents open and clear to work properly and most efficiently. Closing vents in unused areas will disturb the balance of pressure and trigger the furnace to work harder in an attempt to equalize the pressure. If saving money and energy is your goal, ensure that vents are open and not blocked by furniture, rugs and other objects.
Myth:
I should use duct tape to seal any leaking ducts.
Fact: If you identify a leaking air duct, we do not recommend duct tape, despite its misleading name. Duct tape does not seal well and eventually dries out, ultimately leading to more wasted energy and efficiency in your heating system. Duct leaks should be left to a heating and cooling specialist, for safety and longevity purposes. As a certified Aeroseal contractor, we correct leaking ducts with a safe, non-toxic sealant that will ensure your system is as energy-efficient as possible.
Myth:
Setting the heat at the highest temperature will heat your house faster.
Fact: A furnace heats space at the same rate, regardless of the temperature on the thermostat. If you set the thermostat higher than what you actually want, you will eventually have a warmer home than you want, and waste energy in the process. Instead of setting your thermostat much lower when you leave or go to sleep and then cranking it up later, set it just a few degrees lower or consider installing a programmable thermostat. Either option will make it so your furnace doesn’t work any harder than it needs to.
Myth:
Adjusting the temperature on my thermostat will raise my heating bill.
Fact: Keeping your thermostat within a 5-degree zone won’t raise your heating bill. For example, setting it at 68 degrees when you’re asleep, 65 degrees when you are gone, and 70 degrees while you are spending time around the house won’t cause any extra serious stress or work for your furnace. Installing a programmable thermostat will automatically do this work for you, rather than having to frequently set it yourself.
Myth:
I don’t need maintenance on my HVAC system because it has been working fine this year.
Fact: If your furnace has been running well, it may be tempting to skip the annual maintenance to save a few dollars. However, on average over half of service calls during the fall and winter months are due to preventable problems that a professional might have caught during an annual maintenance.
A furnace is a large and important investment in your home, and regular maintenance will protect and extend its life, saving you major headaches and a possible emergency down the road. If you haven’t had one of our heating and cooling specialists perform high-quality preventative care on your furnace in over 12 months, now is a good time to request an appointment with our Comfort Advisors. We also offer Bear Care, a program to get you set up on a regular maintenance schedule with discounts on all repairs.
We hope this information helps you set yourself up with accurate knowledge and the most efficient practices to ensure a cozy home all winter long!
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