Top Reasons Your Heating Bill Spikes in the Winter
Contact Us Today!
There’s plenty to love about the return of winter weather. Beautiful snowfall. The holiday season. Time spent with family and friends. However, if you’re like many New Jersey homeowners, the advent of winter comes with the headache of increased heating costs.
While it’s true that some heating costs can’t be avoided, you’d be surprised to learn that many homeowners are paying more for their heating bill than they actually should be. At Climate Mechanics, our NATE-certified HVAC contractors are to help you prepare your home for the cold winter weather that’s quickly coming upon us. And hopefully save you a bit of money along the way!
Without further ado, here are some of the reasons your heating bill may be skyrocketing!
Your Insulation Is Worn Down
Over time, the insulation in your home is subject to degradation. Whether it’s gotten wet, pests have eaten away at it, or it’s simply old, heating issues may be a result of poor insulation. While insulation doesn’t provide heat in and of itself, it plays a key role in retaining the heat produced by your boiler, furnace, or other heating system.
If you’re noticing that the heating in your home seems to be uneven — check your thermostat first — or barely getting warm at all, take a look at the condition of your insulation. Check out your walls or attic to see if the insulation is still intact. If it’s in poor conduction, you may need a full insulation replacement. However, once that’s taken care of, you should see a reduction of up to 40% in annual heating and cooling costs. Talk about long-term savings!
Your Ductwork Is Damaged
If you’re using a forced air furnace, it’s imperative that your ducts be in tip-top shape if you’re going to take advantage of the maximum efficiency of your heating system. Leaks in your ductwork are the cause of many upticks in home heating costs. While you may be able to see, hear, or feel leaks in your duct work, some leaks can be more difficult to detect. You may even have multiple, especially with an older system. Leaking ducts also have a detrimental effect on the indoor air quality of your home.
If you have a problem with your ductwork, you’re going to want to enlist the help of a professional heating technician. At Climate Mechanics, we use the Aeroseal method in our duct repair services. This powerful method eschews tape and resin-based adhesives. Rather, we send small, flexible polymer particles in your ducts. From there, these particles adhere to leaks, sealing your vents from inside out!
Your Heating Unit Is Underpowered Or Damaged
Keeping up with routine maintenance is critical if you’re going to see high performance from your heater throughout its entire life. In addition to replacing air filters, we also recommend having a yearly tuneup from a heating professional. They’ll be able to catch any issues and nip problems in the bud before they become bigger problems down the line.
If it’s time for a new unit, you’ll want to select a system that has an ENERGY STAR® certification and a high AFUE or SEER rating. This ensures you have an energy efficient system. You’ll also want to make sure it’s the right size for your home. Our HVAC contractors are NATE-certified professionals who can help you make the perfect choice for your new home heating system.
