Three Furnace Mistakes That Are Making Your Cold
You depend on your furnace to keep you warm through the long winter, which is why you need to make sure it is always in tip-top shape. Unfortunately, a simple mistake can increase the chances of a breakdown or compromise how well it heats. The following guide can help avoid three mistakes that could leave you in the cold.
#1: Closing the wrong vents
It's a common practice to close heating vents in rooms that aren't regularly used in an effort to run the furnace less and save money. Unfortunately, this could backfire and lead to more energy usage or a colder home if it's done incorrectly. There are two types of vents for the HVAC system. Generally, the actual vents that blow heat are located near the ground, since heat rises. The return vents, which pull air back into the furnace system, are located near the ceiling. This can vary, especially if your home was retrofitted with heat, so always verify which vents blow air. It can help to close the blower vents, but leave the returns open so air can flow through the system. Also, make sure the doors are closed in any room that has the blower vents closed.
#2: Overheating your thermostat
The thermostat is the control center, and not just for setting the temperature. It also reads the house temperature and uses those readings to switch the furnace off and on. A false reading means your furnace switches on more often or runs longer, which in turn results in more energy usage and more wear and tear on the furnace. Don't install a thermostat on a cool outside wall, near a door, or inside a room you typically don't heat. Conversely, a false reading on the warm side may cause the furnace to switch off, which will leave you cold. Avoid placing anything that creates heat near the thermostat, including reading lamps, computer towers, or appliances.
#3: Overlooking furnace helpers
You can help your furnace out by taking off some of the load. Central heat general blows in warm air near the floor, which then warms the rest of the space as it rises. Once it rises to the ceiling, the warmth is lost through the attic and eventually through the roof. You can help slow this process by recirculating the warm air in your home. Most ceiling fans have a small switch on the base that lets you switch them so they run clockwise, which forces the warm air back down so it has to start the rising process over again. This can decrease the frequency in which your furnace pops on while also keeping you warm.
For more help, contact a heating contractor, such as Always Ready Repair, in your area.
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