Inefficient use of your home’s heating system can be a costly mistake. This BrightNest article highlights five of the most common home heating mistakes, with tips on how to avoid them.
Abusing your thermostat. During a winter chill, it’s tempting to turn the inside of your home into a tropical oasis as soon you step inside, but cranking up your thermostat to warm up faster won’t do anything! Most furnaces pump out heat at a consistent rate, no matter how high the temperature is set.
Closing heating vents in unused rooms. It may seem like the logical thing to do, but blocking heat access by closing vents is actually less efficient than heating unused rooms and won’t save you any money. Plus, doing this can imbalance your home’s entire heating system, which strains your furnace and creates the “cold room” effect. Generally, it’s better to leave vents and doors open and allow your home’s HVAC system to circulate evenly.
Using a dirty air filter. Dirty air filters will reduce the airflow in your home, forcing your furnace to work harder. Plus, it creates more dust and increases indoor air pollution in your home. Check and replace your air filters regularly so your furnace can heat your home as efficiently as possible.
