When it gets cold in Auburn and Opelika, the last thing you want to have to think about is sustaining a comfortable home. In an ideal world, it would be mindless and you'd be relaxing on the couch soaking in the cozy warmth of your home and not thinking twice about what's taking place outside. Of course it may not be that easy, and there are a couple things that could be occurring in your home that could end up with you arranging furnace repair or trying to figure out why your bill is so high.
There are a variety of causes for an increase in your energy costs, but these are three of the more common ones we typically hear about at Farnell Mechanical, Inc..
- Heat is going out through the glass of your windows - when hot air contacts the cold glass on your windows, that air loses some of its heat. To help decrease the effect that the glass has on your comfortable home, make sure you're closing your drapes during the evening hours and only opening drapes on windows getting light during the day.
- Lack of attic insulation - if your home is older, there's a chance that it has an insufficient amount of insulation. Of course this means you might be losing heat through your attic, which as a result makes your furnace work harder, and might eventually lead to the need for a furnace repair. You can easily take a look and see if you have plenty of insulation by looking in your attic to see if the insulation is below or even with the joists. If it is, you probably need more insulation.
- Gaps in windows and doors - sometimes these gaps are more apparent and visible to the naked eye or substantial enough to feel drafts coming in, but sometimes that may not be what's happening. Take a closer look at all of your windows and doors to determine whether you need to add weather stripping to seal those gaps. Just like it is with attic insulation, window and door gaps could make your furnace work more than it needs to, potentially increasing the chance that you'll need furnace repair.
We hope these couple tips can help you identify any problem-spaces in your home that could be diminishing the comfort of your home. If you have any questions about furnaces, furnace repair or other ways to combat heat-loss, give us a shout at 334-524-2458.