Have you ever wondered what it really takes to keep your family comfortable regardless what the weather is outside? Well, lots of people do. Keeping the indoor environment warm and inviting even when the cold winter wind is blowing can be reality if you know how to do it right.
You may find that curling up in front of a fireplace is your ideal way to relax and enjoy some family time together. However, unless you have taken time to ensure that the chimney is cleaned, that time may be marred by unwanted smoke entering the home, or worse yet a fire intruding on the serenity of the moment.
There are just some things that must be taken care of if you are going to be able to enjoy life with those you love. Heater maintenance is one of them. A professional HVAC service contractor can be your best friend; particularly if they are allowed to help you prevent a furnace breakdown during the winter. Heater maintenance is simply a requirement if you want to ensure your family’s comfort.
Heating service is not a DIY project, and neither is new heater installation. You should never try most heater maintenance tasks on your own. Leave the majority of heating service to the professional HVAC service experts, but there are some things you can do to help your heating system work as efficiently as possible.
One task that is simple enough for anyone to accomplish, is cleaning or changing the filter. This is something that should be done once every month. In areas where there is a lot of dust, it may be wise to do it more often. Keeping the filter clean will enhance the energy efficiency of this appliance because it helps keep the unit running at peak performance.
It also helps to perform an energy audit of your home to determine where energy is being wasted. Some cities, states and energy companies offer to do this for you at no cost. The idea is to reduce as much wasted energy as possible for the sake of the environment. Once the audit has been completed, you will have a good idea where to start making changes now that will have the greatest impact on your family’s comfort and your wallet.
Some changes are simple and cost very little to accomplish. Others are a bit more complicated and come with added expense. Many you can do on your own, like adding weather stripping around doors and windows. Others may require the assistance of a contractor, such as installing extra insulation in the walls.
Regardless what you do to upgrade the energy efficiency of your home, rest assured that that the quality of time spent with your family on cold winter days will be reward enough for the effort.