4 Home Heating Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

Fall is a beautiful season in Central Iowa. Although we’re currently busy enjoying vibrant, multi-colored leaves and pumpkin-flavored delicacies, winter is right around the corner. Residents of Polk County, IA, who count on us for heating system services are already making good use of their furnaces to keep them cozy through the ever-shortening days and increasingly chilly nights.

We want to make sure your home’s heating system continues to provide maximum comfort for you and your family throughout the cold-weather season. Avoid a furnace breakdown and save money on your energy bills by side-stepping these common heating mistakes.

Too Much Tinkering With the Thermostat

Resist the urge to turn your thermostat up too high when you’re at home and too low when you’re out. 

Believe it or not, trying to compensate for a chill by cranking the thermostat settings way up won’t actually heat your home faster; it’ll only make the system work harder than it has to, and it will waste energy in the process. The same principle applies to turning the thermostat way down at night or when the house is empty. Typically, it’s recommended to keep the thermostat around 68 degrees when you’re home and between 62 and 66 when you’re away.

Leaving Windows Unlocked

You already know not to leave your windows open when it’s cold outside and you’re running the heater. However, you might not know how much heat energy you could be wasting by leaving the window latch unlocked. Locking your windows will strengthen the airtight seal and prevent the leakage that can drive your heating bills up.

Substituting Fireplace for Furnace

If you’re fortunate enough to have a fireplace in your home, by all means, use it! Just don’t think that it will be a sufficient substitute for the heating system and close the vents in the room or turn the furnace way down. Much of the heat produced by the fire will rise up the chimney, which in turn allows cold air from outside to enter the home. When you go back to turn up the furnace in an effort to get comfortable, you’ll end up overworking it.

Neglecting Professional Maintenance

Finally, even if your heating system seems to be working effectively right now, if it hasn’t been inspected or tuned up in a long time, or you’ve been skipping seasonal maintenance altogether, it’s time to call Lazer Home Services and have our pros come out and take a look. We’ll find all the little issues that are keeping your system from achieving peak performance, and we’ll fix those problems before they worsen and cost you more money in the long run.

To schedule a visit for heating maintenance or water heater repair in Polk County, IA, and the surrounding region, contact our team today. We’ll help you enjoy a hassle-free holiday season in your home!