Heating Tips for Older Homes

If you love the charm and quality construction of your older home but aren’t a fan of that high heating bill each month, we have some tips for you. Heating an older home can be a challenge but if you follow these tips you can lower your power bill and be comfortable in the house that you love.

Check Your Insulation

If you have never checked your home’s insulation, this is a great place to start. If you have insufficient insulation your home could be losing too much heat, causing your HVAC system to run overtime to try and keep up with the heat loss. Your best bet is to have a certified home inspector come check your insulation situation and make recommendations. Adding extra insulation is a fairly simple, one-time cost that could save you big on your energy bill.

Prevent Heat from Escaping

In addition to insufficient insulation, you could also be losing heat due to escape points in your home. If you have a fireplace, make sure the flue stays closed when your fireplace isn’t in use. This will prevent heat from rising and escaping through your chimney.

Another place heat is likely to be escaping is through doors and windows. Be sure all of these points have proper weatherstripping. If weatherstripping is missing or has worn down over time it can not only allow your heat to escape but it gives the cold weather from outside an access point to your home.

Check for gaps in the lower and upper areas of your house. The basement and attic are prime locations for heat loss. Check for and fill any gaps that you find to make your home more energy-efficient.

Routine Maintenance on Your HVAC System

If your HVAC system isn’t receiving routine maintenance it may not be performing at peak level. You need to have routine maintenance performed on your HVAC unit at least twice per year. If you haven’t had this done in a while now is the time. Your technician can inspect your unit and make sure everything is running properly.

Routine maintenance is generally much cheaper than waiting for your system to completely break down. Also, with routine maintenance, you don’t run the risk of having your heat go out during the coldest time of year and possibly having to wait for a technician to come out or having to order a part. It’s much more convenient to prevent a problem before it happens.

Upgrade Your HVAC System

If your home has an older HVAC system, it may just be time to replace your entire unit. While this may seem like a large expense, it will likely save you money in the long run. Replacing an older system is preferable to throwing money away every month in unnecessary heating costs.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

If you suspect your older home is costing you too much money in heating bills or if you haven’t had your HVAC system inspected in the last 6 months, call us today to schedule a consultation. Let us help save you money and keep you more comfortable in these cold weather months.