GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Temperatures seemed to drop almost instantly as the calendar changed to November this week. But there’s still time to get your heating system squared away before it gets too cold to handle.
As winter begins to creep in, it’s important to make sure your furnace is in working condition. WPS Spokesman Matt Cullen says getting a professional inspection isn’t a bad idea.
“Have a professional inspection and tune up [your] home’s heating system, of the furnace. That way, that furnace is running as efficiently as possible throughout the winter,” Cullen told WTAQ News. “[They] can also see if there are any problems or issues that are present right now while temperatures are still relatively moderate, as opposed to later on in the winter when temperatures are much colder.”
It’s also a good idea to know how your home is using energy – so you can identify if a heating bill seems a bit off.
“Understand and learn how your home is using energy. We have some resources available on our website that can help customers with that,” Cullen said. “Knowing how your home uses energy, what appliances, what different devices are using energy, is another step that customers can take to be able to effectively manage those energy costs and improve the energy efficiency of your home.”
To improve energy efficiency and keep your bill a few bucks lower, Cullen has a few tips and tricks. That includes using ceiling fans to push heat down and opening up window coverings during the day.
“The natural heat from the sun’s rays can actually help warm up a home and make that room of that home feel warmer without having to go to your thermostat and make any sort of adjustments,” Cullen said. “Go to the thermostat and set it back 7 to 10 degrees while you’re asleep or might be outside of the home. That way, the furnace isn’t generating that warm air when a customer isn’t around or might not be able to notice.”
But what should someone do if they’re fully prepared and the bills still seem a bit steep?
“The first step to take would be to contact a qualified contractor who could come in and look at that heating system and make any repairs that might be needed,” Cullen said. “Go around the windows or doors and look for any gaps or any cracks that might be present there. If there are those gaps or cracks, seal those up with caulk or weather stripping to keep that warm air inside your home, and the cold air out…Which again can cause your furnace to run more frequently and use more energy. That can reflect on a customer’s energy bill, so that’s another low cost step that the customers can take.”
For more WPS heating tips, click here.
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