Boston Plumbing and Heating Blog

It is getting cold. Now is the time to get your home prepped for the heating season if you have not done so already. The cooler temperatures are making your furnace work harder, but if you have not gotten your home, or your furnace, ready for winter, it is not too late.

Having your furnace professionally serviced will help it work more efficiently. Furnace maintenance means: clean the blower assembly, adjust the burners, clean the coils and heat exchanger, and perform other maintenance to help reduce your energy consumption. New high-efficiency natural gas furnaces and oil furnaces should be serviced annually.

Change the furnace filter: Be sure to change furnace filters monthly during the heating season. Filters play an important role by trapping dust particles that can affect the efficiency of your furnace and indoor air quality. Dirty filters make the furnace work harder to keep your house warm.

Upgrade your thermostat. If you have an older manually-operated thermostat, replace it with a programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts the settings so you won’t have to remember to do it yourself.

Prevent air leaks. Use caulk to seal the air leaks around windows and install weather stripping on doors to ensure the air you’re heating doesn’t escape. Inexpensive gaskets are also available that can be installed behind electrical outlets that are located on exterior walls. Warm air can leak from those as well.

Don’t use space heaters.  If possible, try not to use electric space heaters. It costs considerably more to heat your home with electricity. If you need a new steam heating system, hot water heating system or a new furnace, Greater Boston Plumbing and Heating can help you choose the most economical and efficient heating system for your home.

For more information on efficient home heating or heating system maintenance, contact us.

Excerpts – Tahoe Daily Tribune

It may be February, but winter is not over. Most people wait until after the winter to replace the furnace, but you may be one of the unfortunate ones who has to buy a new furnace now.

If you are buying a new furnace now, be sure the heating contractor knows the size of your house in order to determine the size of the furnace for the space.

A furnace that is too large leaves gaps in temperature when it turns on until it catches up with the thermostat. Your house ends up cooling down until the next cycle and this creates an inconsistent temperature.

A furnace that is the right size for the space will be able to better regulate a constant temperature making it run much more efficiently.

Don’t use price as the main factor when buying a furnace. Annual operating costs for all of the furnaces you are considering should be your main concern.

Efficiencies can vary drastically depending on price, which means that if you pay more up front now, you'll still enjoy lower heating bills for 10 or 15 years.

Many homeowners get confused over purchase agreements and warranty information. Greater Boston Plumbing and Heating is a reputable installer who will be sure to explain the purchase agreement and warranty information as well as explain exactly what you are getting.

Regular maintenance of your heating and cooling system will keep the furnace performing like it should, keep your family warm, and lower your energy bills.

For more information contact Greater Boston Plumbing and Heating.

Original article –Philly.com