With the arrival of winter, temperatures plummet in the Twin Cities area. Although there are many things that you can do to keep your winter heating bills low, now’s the time to take action if you suspect your home is losing heat to the outdoors. Here are seven simple tips for reducing heat loss:
1. Replace air filters. For forced-air heating systems, inspect the air filter regularly and change i
t when it looks dirty. This allows your furnace’s warm air to reach you faster, keeps dust and dirt out of the equipment, and helps maintain good indoor air quality.
2. Clear heating vents. Clean out the dust bunnies and buildup in your floor grates. Doing so will improve the efficiency of your home heating system.
3. Insulate your water heater. If you have an older storage tank water heater, wrap it in an insulating blanket or jacket. The savings you generate, which is generally about 10 percent of overall energy use, will add up over the long winter. If you have a newer water heater, it probably came pre-insulated.
4. Insulate exposed piping. Cover the exposed pipes that move outward from your water heater, especially those that go through unfinished basements or uninsulated spaces.
5. Check your home’s exterior. Look for cracks, rotting wood or gaps in seals, as well as holes in the foundation or siding. Pay special attention to outlets and pipes whose insulation will split over time.
6. Inspect your roof. Examine your roof’s shingles or tiles for cracks or missing pieces, as this may be a sign of a larger, underlying problem that you will need to inspect.
7. Check joints. Over time, seals at the joints in windows and doors will loosen and allow heat to leak out. Light an incense stick and hold it next to these joints; you know you have a leak if the smoke wavers.
Take action now to prevent heat loss before winter settles in. For more expert advice about maintaining your home heating system the whole year round, and even tips for saving energy this holiday season, please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We’re proud to have been serving the Twin Cities metro area since 1974, and we look forward to serving you as well.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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