COMMON HEATING MISTAKES TO AVOID

A short note on common heating mistakes. There are several misconceptions that are practiced during the heating season. A few are mentioned below.

To set your home’s temperature lower when you are gone or asleep then later ramping up the heat above your comfort level won’t save you money. It will simply run your furnace at a longer cycle, plus you may forget to nudge the tempatures back down. An ideal temperature difference is no more than five degrees. Consider installing a programmable thermostat that will lower your settings while you are away or sleeping. The idea that leaving your thermostat set at a constant all day tempature could actually deprive you of significant savings; the over-all net savings will work out in your favor. Just snuggle with your pet until the house is back to your desired temp!

Remember to close your fireplace damper when not in use. Keeping the damper open allows warm air to escape up through the chimney.

Have a vent closed off in a room you are not using? Be careful! Closing off vents changes air pressure making your furnace run inefficiently – ultimately costing you more instead of less.

Don’t forget the carbon monoxide detectors!! Carbon monoxide, CO, poisoning is known as the Silent Killer. It sneaks into your home without warning, leaving tragedy in its wake. Carbon monoxide is produced by any fuel-burning equipment. This includes gas furnaces, fireplaces, appliances, and portable heaters.

Lastly, be aware of any heating hazards. Space heaters are responsible for 25,000 residentuial fires each year according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Also, don’t forget the electric blankets and heating pads…follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.