Heating your home is a necessary practice, even here in Atlanta. Those not from around here may think that it is warm year-round, but we know this is not the case. Our heaters may not be used as extensively as our air conditioning systems are, but that does not mean that we don’t need them to function as effectively and reliably as possible. When temperatures drop, as they do every year, you need your heater to be there for you.
You want more than just a dependable heating performance from your system, though. You also want to be sure that your heater is functioning as efficiently as possible. Too often, homeowners content themselves with paying too much to keep their homes comfortable during the heating season. To this, we say, “no more!” Here are a few common causes of inefficient heating in Atlanta, GA. Contact us with any questions or concerns that you may have.
Dirty Air Filters
We cannot stress this enough. If you use a forced-air heating system, then you need to change the air filter in that heating system regularly. There is a lot to lose if you don’t, and so much to gain. It is so simple to do, and the filters are so cheap, that it is mind-boggling that some homeowners still don’t take advantage of clean filters.
When your air filter is very dirty, your system has to work harder than it should in order to force heated air throughout your home. When that happens, it uses more energy to do so. A very dirty filter can even cause a system to short cycle as it overheats or causes a heat pump’s evaporator coil to ice up, which just drives down efficiency further.
Leaking Ductwork
Again specific to forced-air heating systems are leaky air ducts. When you use a furnace or a heat pump to heat your home (or, for that matter, a central AC or heat pump to cool your home), you use air ducts to distribute conditioned air throughout the house. If those ducts are leaking, then you cannot expect your system to do so in as efficient a manner as it otherwise would.
In the case of leaky heating ducts, the heat within those ducts will transfer out to cooler areas surrounding them. Heat always moves toward cooler spaces. It may not be a total loss, as the heat is still in the house, but it will lead to uneven temperatures throughout your home and trouble heating it affordably.
Subpar Maintenance
Routine heating maintenance needs to be completed, by professionals, every single year. Skipping just one heating tune-up will be enough to drive down the efficiency with which your system operates. Skipping multiple tune-ups is just asking for operational problems.
Check out our Extended Service Plan if you’re interested in getting further benefits when you schedule heating maintenance. We make it easier than ever to keep your heater in the best, most efficient working condition possible.