Homeowners make tons of mistakes with their appliances, mostly due to being careless or forgetting to check after them. However, home heating equipment is an area where it’s important to be careful.
Even small heater problems can lead to spikes in your utility bill, costly emergency repairs, and dangerous malfunctions. Fortunately, most of these issues can be avoided with a little precaution.
Here are some of the most common home heating mistakes homeowners make and how you can avoid them.
Cranking the Thermostat
By far one of the most common and damaging mistakes homeowners make is cranking up their thermostats. A lot of people believe cranking it up all at once will heat their home faster, but in reality, it’s very inefficient and can be detrimental to your heater.
No matter how far you crank it up, it will still take the same amount of time to heat up your home, so there’s really no use for it.
Letting the Heater Run Constantly
During the winter months, it’s easy to forget that your heating system needs a break too. Installing a programmable thermostat, that allows you to set your home’s temperature at different times of the day will let your heater rest while you’re away from home.
Lowering the temperature when you’re away from home is not only beneficial for the heating system, but it can also save you hundreds in utility bills.
Closing Vents in Unused Rooms
Closing vents in the rooms you don’t use might seem like a smart way to save money on your utility bill, but it can actually have the opposite effect, costing you money. Closing vents in some rooms of your house throws off the balance and puts extra strain on your heating system.
Leave the vents open to let the heat spread evenly throughout your home and not overwork your system. An overworked heating system might require you to call indoor heating services.
Not Opening Curtains on Sunny Days
Another way to let your heating system rest and not exhaust it is by opening your windows and curtains to let sunlight through. It’s a great indirect way to warm up your home using natural resources.
Remember to close your windows when there’s no more sunlight so the indoor heat doesn’t escape. Simply shutting your windows isn’t as effective, make sure all of them are locked and sealed.
Not Scheduling Annual Maintenance
Like all other home appliances and devices, it’s essential to get your heating system properly inspected and maintained annually. Regular maintenance will help you avoid small issues before they become bigger problems. It will also save you tons in the long term.
If you start hearing odd noises from your heating system, like a banging or clicking sound, you need to take action immediately to analyze the issue before it gets worse. Ignoring it and continuing like usual will likely lead to serious and costly damage to your heating system.