Three Steps For Improving Your Heating System's Performance
If you live in an area that will experience very low temperatures during the winter months, you can face monthly heating costs that are painfully high. However, failing to run your heating system can create unsafe and uncomfortable conditions within your home. Sadly, homeowners frequently neglect to utilize some steps that may greatly improve the performance of their heating systems.
Insulate Your Ducting
The ducting that carries the warm air to the interior vents will be remarkably inefficient. These ducts will frequently have gaps and other sources of leaks in them that could greatly reduce the amount of warm air that reaches your vents. Additionally, the cold ambient temperatures around the ducts can cool the hot air in them. You may be able to reduce these problems by having a layer of insulation installed on the exterior of the ducts. Furthermore, you may also want to seal the joints in the ducting as this can be one of the major areas for drafts.
Program Your Thermostat To Be Slightly Cooler When You Are Asleep
Your heating system will not need to function at full capacity throughout the entire day as there will be times when you are unlikely to notice if the house is slightly cooler than normal. In particular, it can be extremely beneficial to program your thermostat to be slightly colder during the times when you are normally asleep. To help ensure that you wake up to a warm home, you can program these systems to return to the normal temperature shortly before you normally wake up. This simple step can greatly reduce your heating expenses without contributing to a noticeable decrease in comfort. For those that do not have a programmable thermostat, this will need to be done manually, but the savings can be worth the negligible effort needed to lower the thermostat before you go to bed.
Use Your Curtains For Maximum Effect
Your curtains can also help the performance of your heating system. When you leave the curtains open during the day, sunlight will be able to enter through the windows, and this can help to provide your home with another source of warmth. When the sun sets, you should close the curtains. During the overnight hours, the temperature outside will drop much lower, and closing the curtains will reduce the amount of air that the cold windows can cool. When you are choosing curtains for your home, you should opt for a thick set of dark-colored curtains as these can be the most effective for helping to keep your house warm.
Contact local heating services for more information and assistance.