The colder temperatures are here and soon, we may have the possibility of snow on the ground. While this may be a welcome sign to some, to others it means staying inside with a cup of hot tea while wrapped in a blanket. Don’t forget about your heating system, though! It’s working hard to keep your home 30-40 degrees warmer than it is outside. That’s a tall order considering how hard it is to keep hot air inside of a home! Here are a few tips on how to keep your home warm without depending solely on your HVAC system.
Seal Any Air Leaks
Doors, windows, fireplace flues and electrical outlets are a few examples of areas of your home that need to be looked at to insure that it is sealed properly. If the rubber seal around the door frame is missing or has worn areas, you’re sending hot air outside. The same goes for windows. After many years of use, window frames can lose their seal.
Close Your Curtains
At night, when the temperatures drop even further, it’s necessary to block any type of radiant cooling. Glass pane windows are notoriously bad at keeping the cold out. Even if you have sealed them properly, single and double pane windows will still radiate cold. The easiest way to minimize that is to close your curtains and keep it between the window and the curtain.
Insulate the Attic
Hot air rises, so anything above you in your home is responsible for keeping the heat in. This includes air vents and light fixtures. By insulating the attic, you will eliminate the ability for hot air to seep through the tiny cracks and spaces.
Reverse your fan
Your ceiling fan has 2 settings, one for forcing air downward and the other upward. By forcing air upwards, you are dispersing the hot air that has collected at the top of the room. This will keep the room at an even temperature throughout.
Schedule a heating tune-up
By maintaining your HVAC equipment and keeping it running efficiently with an annual heating tune-up, you will reduce the energy consumption necessary to keep your family warm.
Contact Gentry Air Conditioning today via our online contact form or call us at 817-488-6733.