Your home might be too cold if you shudder every time you open your utility statement. However, it’s more likely that you’re overpaying to heat it. In either scenario, you can make adjustments right away that will keep your home warm and help you save money.

It’s critical to have a heater that operates well throughout the season, whether there is below-freezing weather or several feet of snow. Here are some tips from our heating repair company for getting your heater ready to keep you toasty when you need it most.

1 Replace your HVAC filter.

Generally speaking, you need to change your HVAC filter every season. By the end of the season, your filter will have accumulated too much dust, grime, allergies, dander, and other particles to effectively filter your air. Check to discover what kind of filter your unit requires and get one at your neighborhood hardware or home improvement store to breathe the cleanest air possible.

You could also clean and reuse an electrostatic filter if you have one. Regular filter cleaning or replacement keeps debris out of your HVAC system and can extend its life. If your HVAC system has a humidifier, while you’re at it, replace the humidifier filter and adjust the humidistat.

2. Turn on the thermostat

Change the mode from cooling to heating and raise the temperature a few degrees from the existing setting. If the heat doesn’t come on after a minute, remove the lid and check the connections of the wires (if you feel comfortable doing so). Assuming the connections are secure, confirm that the HVAC system’s power supply is turned on. You could check the heat pump, fan, or blower on the furnace if it’s still not working, but it probably makes more sense to hire a pro.

3. Prepare your vents/registers

Before using your heater, our heater maintenance company advises that you clean the vents and registers around your house. Any additional buildup that might enter your air will be removed by doing this. Additionally, make sure your vents are fully opened and that nothing is preventing the airflow from your vents.

4. Clean the heat exchanger

When the unit is off, a certified technician should annually brush and vacuum the heat exchanger, according to Kenyon. A Sears specialist will inspect it while it is being cleaned for any flaws that can allow harmful carbon monoxide leaks into your house.

5. Lubricate and clean the blower motor

To see if your motor requires lubrication, first examine the owner’s manual. If it occurs, stop using the device, open the cover, and clean the bearing caps. After that, take off the caps and grease the bearings.

6. Test the igniter switch

You might need to relight the pilot on an old system. Electronic ignitors are found in newer systems. Push the reset button if the ignitor isn’t functioning. Check your breaker if that still doesn’t solve the problem. Still not functioning? Bring in a specialist.

7. Maximize your insulation

Around 24% of the heat is lost through the roof. Installing 25 cm of insulation across your loft can quickly minimize this. Additionally, it is important to check the condition of your walls because a third of the heat lost from an uninsulated home escapes through them. Although it costs more to install than loft insulation, cavity wall insulation can reduce heating costs by up to £160 annually. It’s also wise to inquire with your energy provider about any insulation programs they may be doing, which may entail low-cost or even free installation.

8. Check your vents and ducts.

Your system’s overall effectiveness can be decreased by dents, leaks, cracks, disconnects, or obstructions in your ducts or vents, which will force you to operate it longer. This wastes resources consume money, and could eventually cause more serious issues. Please contact a specialist in the field if you notice damage to the HVAC system in your house or place of business.

9. Install a Programmable Thermostat

You don’t have to maintain your home at 68 degrees all the time, so a programmable thermostat lets you set different temperatures for different times of the day. Although they shouldn’t be utilized with heat pumps, programmable thermostats are extremely cost-effective for both heating and cooling systems. For savings of between 10 and 20 percent on your bill, use a setting on the low end when you’re asleep or gone and a higher setting at other times. Up to four temperature settings every day, such as morning, day, evening, and night, can be stored in some devices. Each one has a switch for manual override.

A new thermostat is typically simple to install on your own. Although you should always adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations, in most cases you should take out the old thermostat and unscrew the wire leads that are fastened to the terminals on the rear. If necessary, install mounting screws in the wall after reconnecting those wires to the terminals of the new thermostat.

10. Stop the Draft, Close the Door.

When you strike a match, hot air will rise and pull cool air from the surrounding area into the flame. Heat a structure, and the hot air that rises will draw cold air from the outside into the interior. “Stack effect” is a physical concept that underlies it. Reduce the number of places in your home where cold air can enter, such as beneath an outside door.

Use a “door snake,” a long, thin cloth bag akin to a bean bag, to close the gap. Fill it with anything heavy enough to stay in place, like dried peas or rice. Utilizing leftover fabric, you can sew one. Making sure some interior doors, such as those leading to corridors or close to stairways, are kept closed will also help to keep the heat where it is needed. This prevents natural airways from functioning as chimneys and allows warm air to escape up through the home by blocking them.