When it comes to heating, local Hartford CT residents know better than to take chances. Cold winters are our specialty here in New England, and a reliable heating system means more than just a comfortable home. It can keep you safe and warm while even the harshest winter storms howl outside. Naturally, heating bills tend to go up in the winter, as a result of the energy we use to maintain basic comfort levels. But they don’t always have to go quite as high as they do. Here’s how to improve your heating efficiency, both in the way you treat your heater and in the way you approach the home itself.
- Schedule maintenance. Before winter begins (or even afterwards if you don’t have the time in the fall), schedule a routine maintenance session for your heater. A trained technician will come to your home, clean the heater’s internal components, remove build-up on the burners, tighten any loose fittings and run the heater to spot any potential problems. This reduces friction and helps the heater run more smoothly, which means it won’t need to expend so much energy.
- Insulation and other home improvements. Improving your home’s ability to retain heat means that the heater won’t have to work as hard to do the job. That means sealing any openings around your doors and windows, and looking into energy-efficient replacements like double-paned windows. In addition, see if you can add any insulation to your home, especially in the attic, where heat tends to rise.
- Upgrades. If you have an older heater, you might consider replacing it with a new one, especially one with a higher AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating. Alternately, you can consider upgrades such as zone control systems, which allow you to turn down the heat in parts of the home you aren’t using, while keeping the parts you are using nice and warm.
For these and other thoughts on how to improve your heating efficiency, call upon the experts at Dynamic Mechanical. We offer home heating services in Hartford, and we can advise you of your options and make any changes or upgrades with professionalism and care.