Avoiding Heating Mistakes: Windows, Gaps and Vents

Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning

Gaithersburg HVAC Contractors

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In part one of this multi-part blog series, we went over some common heating mistakes homeowners sometimes make during the winter and how to avoid them. Keeping your home comfortable without raising your energy bill is a fairly straightforward process, but there are a few pitfalls along the way that some homeowners find themselves falling into.

At Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., we’re here to help. We provide a comprehensive range of heating services, from furnace installation and repair to assistance with any other form of heating system present in your home.

What are some other common heating mistakes we see, and how can you avoid them either on your own or with the assistance of our HVAC technicians? Here are a few other areas to keep in mind.

Window Concerns

A major part of maintaining heating and air within the home involves sealing the space so air cannot escape easily, and windows are a big part of this effort. For starters, windows should be kept closed during the vast majority of the winter season, as leaving them open will allow the warm air from your heating system to simply flow out.

Down similar lines, it’s important to not just close windows, but also lock them tightly. Closed windows that aren’t locked may still be allowing air to leak out, but fully-locked windows should be nearly airtight.

Leaks and Gaps

Staying in the sealing realm, it’s important to not only inspect your window areas, but also any others access points that connect to the outdoors, for example doorways, exterior walls, skylights, attics. Check for any leaks or gaps that are allowing air to seep outside the home, especially in the basement and attic areas, as these are often some of the worst culprits.

Vent Approach

Some homeowners think that if there are rooms they don’t spend time in regularly, they can save money on their heating bill by simply closing the vents in that room. Sadly, this isn’t how heating systems work, and doing this will not only fail to save you money, it will actually create issues for the system that might cost you in the long run.

This is because the ducts in your home are designed to provide even, consistent heating throughout the entire space. They’re all interconnected – blocking one set of vents will not change the amount of heat produced, but will simply redirect it to other, open vents. This creates temperature imbalances that the thermostat will then think it has to work harder to overcome, which will in turn strain your system and cost you money. Even if you don’t use a room or area very often, keep its vents open at all times.

For more on how to avoid common heating mistakes during the winter, or to learn about any of our HVAC services, speak to the staff at Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning today.