When it gets cold in Cottonwood & Prescott, the last thing you want to have to be worried about is sustaining a comfortable home. Ideally, it would be mindless and you'd be hanging out on the couch enjoying the cozy warmth of your home and not thinking twice about what's taking place outside. Of course it may not be that easy, and there are a couple things that could be taking place in your home that could end up with you scheduling furnace repair or trying to figure out why your bill is so high.
There are a host of causes for an increase in your energy bill, but these are three of the more common ones we usually hear about at Connolly Electric & Mechanical.
- Heat is getting out through the glass of your windows - when hot air touches the cold glass on your windows, that air loses some of its heat. To help reduce the effect that the glass has on your cozy home, be sure you're closing your drapes during the evening hours and only opening drapes on windows getting light during the day.
- Not enough attic insulation - if your home is older, there's a chance that it doesn't have enough insulation. Of course this means you could be losing heat through your attic, which as a result makes your furnace work harder, and might eventually lead to the need for a furnace repair. You can easily check if you have the right amount of insulation by looking in your attic to see if the insulation is below or even with the joists. If it is, you likely need more insulation.
- Gaps in windows and doors - sometimes these gaps are more obvious and visible to the naked eye or substantial enough to feel drafts coming in, but sometimes that may not be the situation. Take a closer look at all of your windows and doors to decide whether you need to add weather stripping to close up those gaps. Just like it is with attic insulation, window and door gaps may make your furnace run more, potentially increasing the chance that you'll need furnace repair.
We hope these few tips can help you identify any problem-spaces in your home that could be inhibiting the comfort of your home. If you have any questions about furnaces, furnace repair or other ways to lower your heat-loss, give us a ring at 928-251-4327.