To stay warm this winter, you should get your pre-season tune-up at the beginning of fall. Then your heater should be in great shape to function sufficiently during the winter months. However, at Morrison Plumbing, we bet there are a few other factors you may not think of to prepare for the coming cold. Fortunately, there is still plenty of time to implement these tips and tricks to stay warm and save money on your heating bill.
Prepare Your Home
Keeping your home warm during the winter when warm air is continuously escaping through tiny crevices near your doors and windows, but this is thankfully a simple fix that you can attend to yourself if you have the materials. It’s as simple as applying caulk around your windows and installing weather strips around your doors. This will not only keep the warm air in your home, but it will also keep the cold air out. It’s a cost-effective way to ensure your comfort this winter without increasing your utility bills. When you want professional help or you want your HVAC unit to be expertly inspected before winter arrives, please consult with our team at Morrison Plumbing for our variety of heating services.
Create a Way to Shelter Your Outdoor Unit
If you check the weather forecast and your area expects snow and ice, you should think about building a shelter for your outdoor unit. You don’t want to completely cover your unit because this can trap moisture and cause corrosion, and you especially don’t want to cover a heat pump because these units run all year. You want to protect the fan without completely shutting down the unit. If the fan freezes, the unit will not function properly. It will attempt to start up indefinitely until it fails. A simple lean-to or roof-like structure made of fencing materials will be more than enough to protect your outdoor unit from the elements during the winter. The idea is to cover the top, much like an umbrella, to prevent the snow and ice from piling up and causing the unit to freeze.
Close Up Your Chimney
There’s no reason to leave the damper open if you’re not using your gas or wood-burning fireplace. A damper is a movable plate that sits above the fireplace, just before the flue. When closed, it keeps heated air from rising up the chimney and cool air from entering. When opened, it allows smoke from a fire to escape the house. This is due to the vacuum effect, which sucks up the air in your home. You can save money on your home heating bills if you close the damper when the fireplace is not in use. It is important to remember that after using your fireplace, you should wait until all embers have been extinguished and all smoke has cleared from your home before closing it. It is also imperative that you do not use your fireplace with the damper completely or even partially closed, as that will only cause smoke to become trapped in your house, creating a very unpleasant situation.
Change Your Furnace Filter Regularly
If you didn’t change your furnace filter when you got your tune-up in the fall, it is a good idea to change it now and replace it with a new, clean filter. Ideally, this should be completed prior to the start of the heating season. This will ensure that your home has proper airflow and good air quality. A clogged filter can have an impact on these as well as the efficiency of your unit. Changing a filter is easy, but if you want a professional to handle it or also provide a thorough examination of your unit at the same time, you can call our experts at Morrison Plumbing. We’ll make sure your HVAC unit is functioning properly and provide whatever service is needed, including checking and changing the filters. Contact us today to get an appointment scheduled!
Avoid Tampering with Your Thermostat
Setting your thermostat to a super low temperature will not make your air conditioner cool your home any faster, and raising your thermostat significantly will not make your furnace or heat pump heat your home any faster. Actually, it will only harm your unit and increase your heating bills. The key to keeping your house warm when the cold weather arrives is to start warming up ahead of time. If you wait until your house is freezing, you’ll have to pile on the winter clothes or use space heaters to keep warm. Try to anticipate the change in weather and also try to keep your thermostat at a consistent temperature. If you’re slightly too warm, have a cold drink. If you’re slightly too cold, put on a sweater. You don’t need to change your thermostat multiple times a day if you can find other ways to keep yourself comfortable.
Use Portable Heaters
If you require additional heating, use a portable space heater. That way, you won’t have to turn on your heater every time you get cold. These portable heaters are easy to use and maneuver and do an excellent job of providing extra heat to your space. The amount of time it takes to heat your room will depend on its size, but if you position the space heater close to you, you’ll feel the warmth it provides immediately and soon the chill you feel will be gone! Using these heaters will also help your furnace so it doesn’t have to work as hard to heat your entire home. Just remember to turn off these heaters if you are not going to be in the room with them. It is dangerous to leave this equipment unattended, so you don’t want to neglect it and create a safety hazard.
When you want more tips and tricks to keeping your home warm and comfortable in the winter, consult with our experts at Morrison Plumbing. If you need professional services, we are always here to help you. Simply call our team at (618) 408-1624 and we’ll arrange a consultation to go over your specific situation. Don’t wait until winter weather has arrived. Let us help you today!
