When temps drop in Libertyville, the last thing you want to have to be worried about is sustaining a comfortable home. Ideally, it would be mindless and you'd be lounging around on the couch taking in the toasty warmth of your home and not thinking twice about what's happening outside. Of course it may not be that simple, and there are a handful of things that could be taking place 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 normally hear about at TopTec Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical.
- Heat is going out through the glass of your windows - when hot air comes in to contact with cold glass on your windows, that air loses some of its heat. To help reduce the effect that the glass has on your cozy home, be certain that 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 could be losing heat through your attic, which in-turn makes your furnace work harder, and may eventually lead to the need for a furnace repair. You can easily look to see if you have the right amount of insulation by looking in your attic to see if the insulation is below or even with the joists. If it is, you likely need more insulation.
- Gaps in windows and doors - sometimes these gaps are more obvious 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 may make your furnace run more, potentially upping the chance that you'll need furnace repair.
We hope these three tips can help you uncover 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 lower your heat-loss, give us a call at 847-362-0262.