Contents
Furnace Repair | Save Money on Heating This Winter
Everyone wants to know how they can save money on heating costs in the winter! While furnace repair questions are the top of the list, the second most commonly asked question, according to furnace experts Hot to Cold, is people wanting to save a buck (or several) on their heating bills this winter! And it’s no wonder, Albertans are often plunged into frigid icy temperatures for half the year, saving a few dollars a week adds up big time!
One of the first things that homeowners should take note of, is what kind of furnace to buy. It won’t help immediately if you don’t need to replace your furnace. But when you do, you will know what type of furnace to get. There are four kinds of furnaces, natural gas, electric, oil and propane. The most energy efficient furnace of them all, is the natural gas furnace. In fact, according to the Federal Government of Canada, it has a fuel efficiency rating of 90-98% AFUE, which is the best rating that can be achieved.
Gas Furnaces are recommended above the rest for Albertan winters
Therefore, it you need to replace your furnace, you may want to opt for a natural gas furnace. While it may be tempting to get an inexpensive electric furnace, if you have access to natural gas, you will save more on your heating bills in the long run. The next furnace for fuel efficiency is the oil furnace. If you don’t have a gas line or access to oil, experts recommend the electric furnace. All have similar maintenance needs, and will require a furnace repair at the same rate.
Get Smart With Your Thermostat
If you aren’t close to needing to replace your furnace, there are many things you can do to reduce your heating bills. Top of the list, is getting a programmable or Smart thermostat. There are many innovations with thermostats in the past few years. Not only are they programmable, some of them learn your habits and behaviors and adjust accordingly. This means you can have the heat down when you are at work, or sleeping.
The added benefit of having the furnace not constantly working all day and all night, is that it will have less wear and tear. Less wear and tear means not having an untimely furnace repair, or needing a furnace replacement. If you don’t have a Smart or programmable thermostat, you can always call your furnace experts at Hot To Cold tin install one. Or, you can always go old-school and turn it down manually before you leave for work, and when you come back from work.
Furnace Repair | Replace Your Furnace Filter!
Many people know that a clean furnace filter will help clean the air, however they may not realize everything that replacing their furnace filter will do. A clogged furnace filter will cause the furnace to have to work harder to function. This will draw more energy, and cause your heating bill to become higher. Therefore, changing your furnace filter regularly is important to help keep your bills down.
Keep track of your filter usage
The optimum schedule for changing your furnace filter is once every three months. Every time the seasons change, it’s a good reminder to change your furnace filter. However, if you have any pets, it’s better to change the furnace filter every two months instead. In addition to helping save money on heating costs, changing your furnace filter will reduce wear and tear on your furnace, helping you avoid a costly furnace repair bill as well.
Let The Sun Shine Down On Me
Many people prefer closing their curtains and blinds before leaving for work. They don’t like people being able to see into their home when they are gone. And while that makes sense, it prevents the natural and warming rays of sun from warming your home from the outside in. You can leave the curtains and blinds open on the second floor of your house, especially on a clear and sunny winter day – the kind we often get throughout Alberta. And the sun shining in through the windows will warm your house.
Keep your home private
If you are concerned about people seeing in to your home, you can get window film that obscures the field of vision inside the house, while allowing the glorious warm rays of sun to enter your home. This will help keep the house warm during the day, and if you have pets, they will absolutely love hanging out in the warm sunny spot all day.
Regular Maintenance Will Help
Finally, the last thing that people can do to reduce their heating bill and help avoid a furnace repair is have a regular maintenance tune up on their furnace. This is very important, because not only will the furnace technician be able to clean and fix components that are dirty and are easy to fix and replace, but when your furnace is in great working condition, it will operate better, and more efficiently, helping you save money on heating costs. But it will also help keep your furnace in great working condition longer, helping you avoid a furnace repair bill, as well as help avoid having to completely replace your furnace prematurely!
If you have furnace questions, like how to save money on heating costs or if you would like to schedule a tune up for your furnace, Hot to Cold is ready to help! They have expert technicians who would like to come to your home and make sure that your furnace is cleaned up, tuned up and ready to work efficiently, and cost effectively all winter long!
Contact Us!
