Myth 1: Reduce monthly heating costs by closing unused room vents.
For homes with forced air heating systems, the system balances the air pressure to properly heat your home. Closing vents actually throws this system off and forces your furnace to achieve the same results from adjoining rooms which might make it work even harder.
Myth 2: Hot and cold spots in my home are normal.
Hot and cold spots throughout a structure can be an indication your furnace is having difficulty doing its job or you may have insulation problems. Most homes and businesses can avoid this after an evaluation from a professional.
Myth 3: Bump up the temperature and heat up the house faster.
Heating systems are not designed to work that way. They operate at the same pace for longer or shorter periods of time as conditions demand. At best, you’ll experience a placebo effect and at worst, you’ll waste energy and money.
Myth 4: Cold floors are just a regular thing in the winter.
It shouldn’t be. Odds are this is an insulation problem leaving your whole heating system overworked. Addressing such a symptom quickly, can save you money in the long run.
Myth 5: My furnace works fine, so I don’t need to replace it.
Sure. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” has a lot of utility as a saying, but waiting for the furnace to completely crash can be like continuing to drive a car with the check engine light on for months. Here are a few signs indicating it may be time to replace your furnace:
- The furnace is more than 10 years old. Even well maintained, installing an energy efficient replacement will have you saving money overall quickly.
- Your utility bills are higher than normal. This could mean your furnace is expending more energy to achieve the same results
- The furnace is making strange noises.
- The furnace burner flame is yellow. Furnace burner flames are supposed to be blue. A yellow flame may indicate a possible carbon monoxide hazard. Call an expert immediately.
- Minor Repairs are becoming more frequent over a couple of years. This pattern is unlikely to reverse. Save in the long run.
