Winter in Chesapeake is in full swing and the coldest days of the year are here which means your heater has been working hard to keep you comfortable and warm. If you have been spending more money than usual trying to warm up your home, don’t stress! We understand that winter can be a costly time for your HVAC unit, and we are here to guide you through it and save you some money. Below are 5 of the most common home heating mistakes to avoid during this time of the year:

• Closing The Vents In A Room
• Cranking Up The Thermostat
• Ignoring Leaks Around Your Home
• Failing To Clean Or Replace Air Filters
• Failing To Give Your Furnace Regular Maintenance

Closing The Vents In A Room

Although you may think that closing the vents in an unused room is relatively harmless, it is not recommended because it will build up pressure and direct it elsewhere throughout the duct system. Pressure buildup can lead to wear and tear of your heating system, making it more likely to break down. Additionally, completely closing the vents in a room will cause the room to naturally become colder than the rest of the house which will cause your furnace to work extra hard to try and warm up that room. Every time your furnace has to work harder than usual, it will consume more energy, increasing your overall energy bill.

Cranking Up The Thermostat

Contrary to popular belief, cranking up the heat won’t warm up your home faster. Instead, this will only cause your furnace to run longer, which will increase your energy consumption. Instead, try setting the thermostat to a moderate temperature and allowing your furnace to reach that target temperature at its own pace.

Ignoring Leaks Around Your Home

Failing to seal the leaks around your home is just as bad as leaving a window slightly open. This is because any kind of leak will allow cold air to slip into your home, decreasing its overall temperature and causing your furnace to once again, work extra hard to warm your home back up. If you notice a crack or leak around the walls of your home, we recommend you cover it up with caulking or weather stripping tape that can be found at your local home improvement store.

Failing To Clean Or Replace Air Filters

Ensuring your air filters are clean is important at all times of the year. During the winter, a dirty or clogged air filter will prevent warm air from blowing through and warming up your home. A dirty air filter can be harmful to your overall health because it allows harmful pathogens and other allergens to roam around the air that you are constantly breathing in. It is not uncommon for your indoor air quality levels to worsen if your air filters are dirty.

Failing To Give Your Furnace Regular Maintenance

We’ve said this a million times, and we will say it again: Maintenance is always key in the HVAC world. Regularly maintaining your furnace will ensure that everything is working properly which will prevent costly breakdowns that will blow a hole through your wallet. Some other benefits of regularly maintaining your furnace are:

• Ensures your system is running efficiently
• Prolongs the lifetime of your system
• Saves you money on energy bills
• Keeps you and your family members safe

The winter months don’t have to be filled with high energy bills. Your friends at Quality Contracting want to make sure you dedicate this time to enjoying the comfort of your home without worrying about how much money you are spending. Avoiding these five common heating mistakes will help make this possible. For heating unit repair in Chesapeake and surrounding areas, give us a call!

Heating systems are one of the most important appliances in your home, which is why they should be chosen wisely. If you are in the market for a new heating unit, we encourage you to consider a furnace. Furnaces are a reliable heating option, because they produce heat and can keep your home comfortable all season long. In this blog, we will discuss helpful tips when purchasing a furnace and how furnaces can be beneficial.

What Is a Furnace?

A furnace is a heating unit that generates and produces heat to warm your home. Depending on the type of furnace your home utilizes, it is powered by natural gas, electricity, oil, or propane. The heating unit is made up of six main components: thermostat, gas valve, burners, heat exchanger, blower, and air ducts. Simply put – most furnaces operate by burning fuel to generate heat inside the burner. The heat passes through the heat exchanger, which makes it hot. Air from ductwork is then blown over the heat exchanger, which warms it. The blower pushes the warm air through the ducts and into the home.

What To Look For In A New Furnace

A new furnace is an investment for your home and should last many years to come. When choosing the perfect furnace for your home, there are certain factors to consider. Below we have listed consideration tips to buying a new furnace.

• Efficiency
• Type Of Furnace
• Size

Efficiency

Although highly efficient furnaces are costly upfront, it will save you money down the road. New furnaces can create more heat while using less energy, which saves on operating costs. Not only will you have extra pennies in your piggy bank, but help the environment as well. While staying inside your budget is important, it could be in your best interest to spend more on a high efficiency furnace.

Related Article: Ways To Improve The Energy Efficiency Of Your HVAC System

Type Of Furnace

There are four main types of furnaces: gas, electric, oil, and propane.

Gas: Gas is the most common type of furnace, but requires access to a municipal gas line. Gas furnaces offer many benefits, such as fast heating, efficiency, and clean burning. The majority of homes in Chesapeake utilize gas furnaces.

Electric: Electric furnaces are another popular option, because they are an affordable option. However, electric furnaces can cost more over time due to electric charges. Electric furnaces are a safer option due to not utilizing gas and typically have a long lifespan.

Oil: Oil furnaces can be a low cost option, but are often less efficient. Typically oil furnaces are cheaper upfront, but your utility bills will make up for the efficiency costs down the road.

Propane: Propane furnaces are similar to gas furnaces, and are typically used where gas and oil aren’t readily available.

Size

When it comes to purchasing a new furnace, bigger is not always better and smaller is not always economical. Too large of a furnace can use more energy than necessary and cause the unit to be overworked. Too small of a furnace will struggle to meet your home’s heating requirements and run up energy bills. Choosing the proper size furnace is important to help save money, time, and repairs in the future. Furnace size is measured in BTUs, and one of our expert technicians can help determine the proper size furnace for your home.

Furnaces In Virginia Climate

As most Chesapeake residents know, winters can be very cold and windy. Homeowners need a warm escape from the frigid Virginia winters, and furnaces can be a suitable option. Furnaces are a great choice for colder climates due to the unit not relying on outdoor heat like heat pumps. The heating system can provide many benefits to a Virginia home, such as:

• Good Air Quality
• Fast Heating
• Energy Efficiency
• Affordable

If you are in the market to purchase a new furnace for your home, consider these tips! We are here to keep your home cozy and your piggy bank full this winter season, and can help determine if a furnace is the best option for your home. Additionally, we can repair, replace, and maintain all types of furnaces in Chesapeake and surrounding areas!

Many wonder when to officially make the switch from air conditioning to heating. The fall temperatures bring warm days and cool nights, which can make heating and cooling homes difficult. In this article, we will explain when to turn on your heating system and maintenance to do beforehand.

Turning On The Heating System In The Fall

As the outdoor temperatures drop, the need for air conditioning comes to an end. When to turn on your heating system in Virginia is a homeowner’s personal preference. There is no harm in turning on your system or leaving it off as long as your comfort remains. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend heating your home when the indoor temperature is below 64 degrees. It is important to consider factors such as pets, plants, and electronics before letting your home get too cool for comfort.

Open Windows In The Fall

Fall temperatures can help keep your home a comfortable temperature. However, it is important to know the advantages and disadvantages before doing so!

Advantages Of Open Windows

Enjoying the outdoor fall temperatures can air out your home of trapped pollutants. Other advantages include:

• Decreased Energy Bills
• Fresh Air

Disadvantages Of Open Windows

Your heating or cooling unit should be turned off when the windows are open, because it could overwork the system. Your unit works hard to meet the thermostat setting, which will never be reached with the windows open. Other disadvantages of open windows include:

• Poor Air Quality
• Unpredictable Temperatures

Heating System Maintenance

Before turning on your heating unit for the season, there are a few homeowner maintenance tasks to perform. Your heating unit will be more reliable and efficient by ensuring there are no obstructions. Below are 5 fall tasks to ensure your heating system is ready to warm your home!

• Schedule Heating Maintenance
• Change Air Filters
• Check Air Vents
• Clean System
• Replace Home Safety Device Batteries

Schedule Heating Maintenance

Your heating system should be looked at by a professional once a year, ideally in the fall season. Without maintenance, your unit can operate with an underlying issue and run up energy costs. Additionally, your unit may not work properly the moment you need it and your comfort is sacrificed. Turning on heating units before fall maintenance can result in costly repairs and breakdowns.

Change Air Filters

The fall season can bring allergies for some, so it is best to start off with clean air filters in your home! Air filters catch allergens and pollutants to increase air quality, but struggle to do so if clogged. Your heating system can become overworked if operating with a dirty filter, which uses more energy and raises utility bills. To breathe clean air and stay cozy this fall and winter, change your air filters at least every 3 months!

Check Air Vents

Air vents and ducts can collect dust over time and spread allergens around your home. Before turning on your heating system, take a rag or vacuum to air vents around your home. This can minimize allergy symptoms and dust accumulation to keep you breathing easy all winter.

Clean System

Your heating system can collect dust and debris due to sitting in its off season. Cleaning your unit can help improve efficiency and airflow. If you use an outdoor heating system, clear leaves and other debris collected from the spring and summer seasons. If you use an indoor system, dust and clear household items such as boxes from around the unit.

Replace Home Safety Device Batteries

It is important to start the fall and winter season with properly working home safety devices, such as the carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Fuel burning appliances, such as furnaces, can emit carbon monoxide and be dangerous for your safety and health. We recommend testing all devices in your home using the “test” button and replacing batteries if needed.

If your home is becoming uncomfortably cool, it is time to turn on your heating system! Your comfort is important to us, which is why you should consider the 5 simple fall maintenance tasks listed. Our expert technicians can solve any heating problems with our heating maintenance in Chesapeake and surrounding areas.