3 Heating Repair Strategies That Will Save You Money

If you're like most people, you'll invest in heating repair once it breaks down in the middle of winter and your teeth are chattering. However, skipping maintenance and upgrades to your climate control system is a waste of money. Your warm air will be slipping out the window along with your pennies. Rather than taking your chances, investing in your home early and regularly will help maintain its value for longer and will reduce costly emergency HVAC house calls. Here are three simple strategies that will decrease your energy bills and keep you toasty through the colder months. 

1. Seal
Maybe your furnace or climate control system isn't the problem. Heating repair can start from the outside in. Proper sealing of your home is one of the best ways to trap the warmth inside and prevent it from leaking through cracks and crevices. Check all windows, doors, and other potential openings to ensure that there is a strong seal and no damage that may be allowing excessive airflow. A few places where hidden holes often lie are the attic, crawl spaces, or basement. You may wish to hire a professional to inspect these areas, as they can be difficult and dangerous to maneuver around on your own. In addition to sealing these hot spots, your ductwork may have leaks as well. Air will not flow properly and can result in uneven warming if there are any holes. 

2. Insulate
Insulation is another problem in many older homes. Fiberglass, which is a popular pink foam-like batting used within many walls, is far less energy efficient than new varieties of insulation. Your furnace, ductwork, or boiler may all be working in top form, but you won't reap the benefits of a warm house and lower energy bills if your insulation is working against you. If possible, consider upgrading to a more economical option. While expensive to install initially, eco-friendly spray foam insulation has a much greater energy rating, resale value, and overall longevity than its older counterparts. It comes with some other great benefits such as soundproofing and built-in pest control. 

3. Regular Maintenance 
Just because your heater is working now, doesn't mean that it will be running at top performance levels all year long without some maintenance. Many minor heating repair jobs can be done at home, such as dusting the vents, checking and changing the air filter, and cleaning the outside of the condensing coil. While a little bit of elbow grease on your part is helpful, you'll still want to have a professional tune up annually, or at the very least every two years depending on the amount you use your system. An HVAC professional will inspect all working parts such as the ignition, fan switch, thermostat, ducts, and drains. They will also perform tests, lubricate the machinery for more fluid movement, and top up or change fluids as needed. These small tasks can prevent bigger, more expensive problems from developing in the future.