Reduce the Need for Winter Heating Repairs and Maximize Energy Savings

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Without the help of a reliable heater, it can get pretty chilly indoors during the winter. Because your heater works hard all winter to keep you warm, it's likely faced with continual wear and tear as it is used, which can result in the need for extra maintenance efforts and unnecessary repairs. The good news is that with just a little legwork, you should be able to keep your heater in optimal working condition while minimizing the need for repairs. Consider implementing these methods and techniques:

Minimizing Wear and Tear

It's essential to take steps that minimize wear and tear on your heating system in order to reduce the chance of breakdowns and avoid wasted money. This can be easily achieved by incorporating a few handy accessories and completing some do-it-yourself projects that will protect your home from the outdoor elements. This will make it easier to naturally maintain comfortable temperatures indoors and should reduce your heater use overall so the appliance doesn't have to work so hard throughout the day. Try one or more of these effective ideas:

• Implement some additional insulation to your house by sealing all of the window and door frames with either spray foam insulation or standard caulking. By sealing your home in this way, you can save a significant amount on energy costs throughout the year, help to reduce noise pollution coming from the outdoors, and prevent insects and allergens from getting indoors.
• Plant a couple of deciduous trees, such as magnolia and cherry, near any windows that get direct sunlight at any time of the day. Deciduous trees lose their leaves during winter months, so the sun will naturally warm things up inside your house. They'll also keep your home cool when it's hot outside, thanks to their growth of lush leaves in the summer. Planting trees can even raise your overall property value!
• Install tinted insulation window film on your panes for easy maintenance of comfortable indoor temperatures and to reduce ongoing wear and tear on your heating system. This type of film will protect your interior walls and floors from damage due to harmful UV rays, too.

These methods should help to save you a pretty penny on your monthly heating costs throughout the year and ensure that you're not left with a broken heater when it's especially cold outside.

Maximizing Performance

In addition to taking steps that reduce wear and tear on your heating system, it's equally important to maximize performance. This will ensure that your heater doesn't have to struggle throughout the day to keep temperatures comfortable indoors, saving you money on both energy costs and repairs as time goes on. Here are some things you can do to optimize the performance of your heater just before the winter months hit:

• Clean the air filters in your heating system by using a clean damp cloth to gently wipe each surface of dust and debris. If they are especially dirty, you can dip each filter in a bucket of soapy water before you wipe them down with a cloth. This should help to keep mold and allergens from circulating in your home's air and building up on the floors and walls.
• Have a professional inspect your heating system during the weeks leading up to winter so you can be sure that everything is working as it should be. A professional technician can spot any small problems that have developed and address them before they become too serious or costly to repair. They'll also complete maintenance tasks such as tightening the hoses and connections as well as cleaning the condenser coils.

With the help of these tips and tricks you'll stay warm all winter without facing sky high energy costs or chancing inconveniently expensive repair bills. To schedule an inspection for your heating system, contact a representative from a company like Blue Ridge Services.

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8 February 2016