Hello World! Welcome Friends! Winter in Salt Lake City is beautiful. You can go skiing in the hills or simply watch the snow carpet on the grounds of Temple Square. It also means it’s family time. For most of us, it’s time to cozy up in our warm living rooms for long evenings as the weather grows more and more chilly outside. December and January, like every year, will be the coldest ones, with temperatures in Salt Lake City expected to be at 19 degrees on some days.
But if your furnace is broken or your heating system isn’t working efficiently, it will become difficult to create a warm fuzzy Christmas-like feeling in your home. Home energy costs have spiked this winter, especially given the energy crisis caused due to the war in Ukraine. Currently, even the 30% hike over last year predicted by the Energy Information Administration seems to be on the lower side.
You must get repairs done and get new installations in place if needed. A faulty heating system will increase your energy bills due to the lower heating efficiency. You may start following a few handy tips to keep warm this winter. Read on to know what we are suggesting today.
1. Maintain Your Heating System
It’s important to keep your heating system in good working order so that it runs efficiently. The less energy it uses, the lower your heating bill.
If you have gas heat, have the pilot light checked from time to time. Make sure the filter is clean. Check if there is enough insulation around pipes in attics or basements.
For oil heaters, make sure there are no leaks and that the tank is properly filled with fuel at least twice a year or more often if temperatures drop below freezing.
Furnace filters are essential for good indoor air quality. They keep dust, dirt, and debris from circulating the house. Most new furnaces come with a standard reusable filter that lasts up to three months before it needs replacement or cleaning, depending on its size and quality.
2. Choose the Right HVAC Professional
You should make sure they are licensed, insured, and have experience with the type of furnace you have.
It’s also important to find someone who is available when you need them. If possible, look for a company that offers 24-hour service in case of emergency repairs. You can try this firm specializing in HVAC repair in Salt Lake City for furnace installation or repair work.
Finally, make sure there are good reviews about their work by checking local references.
3. Seal Gaps in Your Heating Ducts
You have to seal gaps in your heating ducts.
You might think that your home is warm enough, but if you find yourself shivering at night, there’s probably a gap somewhere.
To find it and fix it, you need to turn on your furnace and open the registers to make sure the air is moving throughout the house. This will help you notice where any leaks are.
If you notice cold air coming through when there should be none, then it might be time to seal those gaps.
4. Change Your Furnace Motor or Blower Bearings
Blower bearings are the motors that keep your furnace fan spinning, allowing hot air to flow through the ducts and out into your home. They’re important because if you have a problem with them, it can cause your heater to overheat and potentially break down.
While changing the bearings on your furnace, first make sure that it is not running during this process.
5. Add a Space Heater
Space heaters can also help to keep your home warm in the winter. If you have a small room that is not heated by a furnace or central heating system, adding an electric heater may be the best option for you.
Space heaters should be used only as a supplement to other sources of heat and not as the only source of warmth in your home. Space heaters are excellent sources of supplemental warmth for rooms without central heating systems or fireplaces.
They produce warmth “on demand” rather than continuously running inside walls.
Never use extension cords with them because such cords may cause fires due to too much current being drawn from outlets.
6. Use Fireplace Safety Tips
Use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from escaping the fireplace. It will minimize smoke damage to surrounding walls and furniture. It will protect children who may be inclined to touch the flames out of curiosity. Pets might jump up onto the hearth for warmth and get burned by hot embers falling onto their paws. A screen can also take care of that by cutting off direct access to the hearth.
Always use an appropriate fire extinguisher when burning anything indoors, even if it is just one log. It’s easy enough for something as small as a piece of paper or kindling wood to start a large fire if left unattended, and even easier if you have combustible materials around the fireplace itself, like curtains.
Consider investing in an electric fireplace to minimize damage to your lungs and the environment through smoke pollution. Indoor wood burning causes 90% of air pollution through particles in rural areas and smaller communities in all the states, including Utah.
Currently, two-thirds of homes in the USA are using combustion sources. The American Lung Association wants you to utilize government incentives to switch to more energy-efficient and lung-friendly sources of heating like an electric fireplace or a furnace.
7. Use a Programmable Thermostat
You can save money by programming your thermostat to turn off when it’s not necessary, like during the day when you are away at work. Only those rooms will be warmed overnight where you are staying.
With a few steps, your home will be warm and cozy all winter long. As you can see, there are many ways to make your home warm and cozy. By taking care of the things that matter most, you’ll be able to enjoy winter without worrying about high energy bills or cold rooms.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
Tips and Tricks to Save Money on the Utility Bills of Your Home
The Pros and Cons of Living in St. Louis
Injection Molding Basics: What is Injection Molding and How Does it Work?
How to Pick the Right Internet Option for Your Home
Pellet Stove Performance Issues and Their Solutions
Best Retractable Awnings and Where to Find Them
I’d love for you to join my email list! You’ll receive a notification straight to your inbox which will include links to my latest home project posts! Simply enter your address below.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
[…] 7 Tips to Keep Your Home Warm this Winter […]