The cost of heating and cooling the home has gone nowhere but up in the past few years, and this fall will be no different. More and more families are finding a significant portion of their budget being dedicated to staying cool or warm during the year. As fall approaches, the tips that follow will allow you to get your home ready for the cooler weather and will help you to get the most out of your heating dollars.

Checking for Leaks

It is hard enough to pay for energy to heat your home, but it is even harder still to imagine that heat is being wasted because of leaks. The most effective and least expensive way to cut down on wasted energy is with caulking and weather-stripping. If your home is not properly sealed, you may be wasting as much as fifteen percent of your home heating budget. Check for leaks in the following areas of your home:

– Around windows and doors. Drafts and leaks around windows and doors can be costly. Add caulking to any holes that obviously allow heat to pass through, and add weather-stripping to all windows and doors. Your door should seal properly when shut and you should not be able to feel any draft from beneath the door.

– Electrical switches and outlets can allow cold air to come into your home. You can purchase pre-cut foam gaskets very inexpensively that simply fit behind the switch plate between the wall and that prevents the loss of heat.

– Close the damper on the fireplace when not in use. An open damper is like having a huge window open in your home, but many people forget to close it when the fire is no longer burning.

– Inspect your home’s heating ducts for leakage. You might think of your home’s heating ducts like giant hoses that are piping in hot air instead of water. Just imagine the loss of heat that can occur with a leak in the duct work of your home. Ducts may become crushed, torn, flattened, or even damaged by pests without your knowledge and may be leaking hot air.

– Insulate the attic. If your home is older, there is a good chance that your home’s attic may not be insulated, or may be poorly insulated. A large amount of heat can be lost through your attic due to the fact that heat rises. Also, apply weather-stripping and insulation on the hatch that opens up to the attic. Seal any holes in the attic that may lead down into the home. Any hole that leads from the attic into the home may be a huge energy waster.

Maintaining Your Heating System

Once you have an airtight home with no leaks, you are ready to think about the day when you will need to fire your furnace up for the first time this season. If you are a savvy homeowner, you have likely been maintaining your heating and cooling system throughout the summer, but with fall approaching, now is the time to schedule a professional inspection with your local heating and cooling technician. This annual inspection allows the technician to check for potential problems and to make any needed repairs so that your heating system is ready to go when the fall chill sets in.

Author Bio: Fiona Baron is a writer who loves sharing information. If you need a excellent Sacramento HVAC company visit their website or call 916-344-6625. They’ll do a great job on any Sacramento AC repair or new air conditioning installation.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: furnace repair, furnace maintenance, furnace service, hvac repair