Reasons Behind Excessively High Heating Bills

November 18, 2020

Even when the cold winter weather is taken into account, you feel that your heating bill is excessively high. There may be a number of explanations for this; the following are just a few of the most common.

Heating at Unnecessary Times

Though the temperature does drop at night, experts say you can sleep comfortably without running the heater. All it takes is some warm clothes and heavy blankets. Also, you should not heat an unoccupied home.

If you don’t own a programmable thermostat, know that this device can help you make a heating schedule of your own. You could have the system switch on 30 minutes before you wake up or come home from work. It’s an investment that will save you money on your bills in the long run.

Clogged Air Filters

Knowing when to switch on the heater is one thing, but it’s another thing to make sure the system runs efficiently. Perhaps the most basic maintenance task, one that every homeowner should be able to handle, is the filter replacement. Furnaces, heat pumps, and mini-splits all come with them, and their job is to keep pollutants from the interior components.

The only tricky thing is to determine when to replace your filters. For example, it’s every 30 days with fiberglass filters; for pleated filters, it’s every 60 to 90 days unless someone smokes in your home or you own pets.

Lack of Heating Maintenance

Clogged filters may point to the larger problem of a poorly maintained heater. It’s not just dirt on a furnace burner that compromises heating; old wiring, a faulty thermostat, and out-of-balance fans do their part as well. Professional tune-ups can address these and so much more.

Too Little Insulation

Your bills may go up every winter because of your home’s lack of insulation. Make sure the attic and walls are thoroughly insulated.

Over 250 Years of Combined Experience

Professional maintenance is one of our specialties at McKinney Heating & Air Conditioning, so call us today for a convenient visit anywhere in Fieldale, VA. Our NATE-certified technicians also work on tankless water heaters, generators, and indoor air quality systems.

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