With the chill of winter descending upon us, now is the time of year when many of us like to curl up under a blanket and warm up. We tend to rely heavily on our HVAC systems and furnaces in order to remain cozy during the cold season. However, with the increased use of these heating systems come higher bills come to the end of the month. Fear not! Here are somw cheaper alternatives to give your furnace and heating system a vacation. With any luck, these affordable ways to stay warm in your bedroom this winter can yield practical results for your home.

Use Warmer Bedding

Instead of turning your thermostat up during the winter, try using warmer bed sheets. Remove sateen sheets and substitute a down-filled comforter. In addition, you can employ the use of an electric blanket. If you decide to use the electric blanket, make sure that it is on top of the other blankets when in use. Electric blankets can be serious fire hazards if improperly handled. As a surrogate, consider using an electric mattress pad, which warms the bed from underneath the sheets. It is a safer alternative to the electric blanket.

Buy a Space Heater

On those cold nights, instead of turning up the central heating system, why not use a space heater. When choosing one, make sure that the heater is suitable for the size of the room. The typical capacities of these units tend to range between 10,000 and 40,000 Btu’s. These units tend to be powered by electricity as well as gas, propane and even kerosene.

Make sure the heater is not in contact with any bed sheets or anything flammable. Check out the following link for 9 reasons to invest in a space heater.

Relocate Your Bed

If your bed is located close to a window, it is beneficial that you move it to another location away from the window in your bedroom. Glass, even if it is multi-paned, it is still prone to cooling down thus making your room colder as well.

Cover the Windows

Outside temperatures often are transferred between glasses; heavier window shades during the winter would be ideal to maintain any sort of heat within the home and to keep the cold at bay.

Lay Down a Thick Rug

If you have hardwood flooring in your room at home, chances are that the temperature will affect it. Consider placing a thick throw rug or even a sheepskin to keep your feet warm when waking in the morning.

Wear Socks and a Knit Hat

If your significant other likes it on the cool side, but you’re shivering at night, warm yourself up by slipping on thick socks before climbing between the sheets (as a bonus, you’ll sleep better when your feet are warm) and add a knit cap to keep your head cozy. After all, there’s a reason those old-time illustrations show people sleeping in long, pointed caps.

Use a Heated Water Bottle

Instead of utilizing an electric blanket or using heavier comforters, why not use a heated water bottle? If placed under your sheets on a cold night, it can provide a very affordable way to stay warm in your bedroom this winter.

If you find your house too cold though, you may need a furnace inspection, repair, or even a replacement. Be sure to contact North Shore Home Energy today, and check out our awesome reviews!

By nshec

The summer’s behind us and the cold of the winter months is approaching, which means most homeowners find themselves asking this question eventually: How often SHOULD I get My furnace serviced? Common sense dictates you should have an HVAC professional come in regularly to assess your system, but how regularly? Yearly? Biannually? Once every few years? If you want to properly understand how often your furnace needs service, it’s important to know the reasons why it needs service to begin with.

Type of Furnaces

There are four main types of furnaces you can find in the average American home: gas, oil, electric, and propane. Each of these furnaces offer different pros and cons, but the vast majority of them only require annual servicing. Propane furnaces, on the other hand, require some TLC twice a year; every six months ideally. Most HVAC professionals will tell you to get the service in the shoulder seasons during the fall and the spring; before and after it gets the most use.

Detect Potential Problems

The biggest reason you want to get service is to get professional eyes on the furnace; eyes that will be able to see red flags that the average homeowner can easily miss. Cracks in the heat exchanger, worn out parts, internal rust and decay, and other signs of imminent system breakdown. It’s a lot like going to the doctor: the more often you go, the easier it is to catch warning signs of a larger problem down the road. And, like health problems, catching them early makes fixing them a lot easier and a lot cheaper.

Keep A Valid Warranty

Most manufacturers require homeowners to keep up with regular maintenance to maintain a valid warranty. If your furnace breaks and the problem falls under the warranty, the manufacturer will likely ask you for the maintenance records. Without them, they can claim negligence on your part and void the warranty, making you pay for the repair within the warranty period. In the event of a major emergency, you want the peace of mind knowing that your warranty will cover any massive unexpected breakdown of your system.

Carbon Monoxide Leaks

One of the worst case scenarios for your furnace is to start leaking dangerous carbon monoxide gas. While it may sound similar to the harmless carbon dioxide we breathe out, don’t be fooled. Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an insidiously harmful as without any sort of odor. Prolonged exposure to the gas can cause fainting and even death. Specialized detectors can find it in your home, but the obvious preference is for it to stay out of your home entirely. Furnace leaks are one of the most common sources of CO in homes. Cracks in heat exchangers are the main culprit. Regular maintenance can identify the early warning signs of CO leaks in your furnace and help you act before it’s too late.

The Takeaway

“How Often Should I Get My Furnace Serviced?” Probably once a year, if not twice. Spring and fall are the two best possible times for this to happen; right before the opening of heating season and right after it’s over. Being September in New England, we know how quickly the weather can get cold. We got snow last year for Halloween. Make sure your furnace is ready for what’s to come and schedule some furnace service from Dempsey Energy today.

If you have questions about energy efficient plumbing, contact us online or call our office at (617) 668-1086. We look forward to hearing from you!

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By nshec