This winter we are expecting another cold, snowy season for all of Toronto. While we have become accustomed to these long, hard winters, that doesn’t mean you should have to spend more than you need to keep your Toronto area home nice and warm.
We have put together a few home heating tips that should help you save money, use less oil or natural gas or electricity, and yet keep you and your family comfortable and safe throughout the season.
Tip #1: Have your furnace and heating system inspected.
During the autumn months is the best time to call an HVAC specialist to come out to your home, inspect the furnace and the entire heating system, and replace any components including filters that require replacement.
If you don’t have your furnace or heating system inspected at least once a year, you could end up finding yourself in the unenviable situation of trying to get an HVAC technician out to your house during the middle of winter. During the middle of winter you can expect to wait several days to even weeks to have an HVAC technician come to your home to get your furnace system up and running again, especially during major storms.
Tip #2: Check the weather stripping around all entry doors.
Weather stripping is a material that keeps doors sealed when they are closed, keeping the cold air from seeping in under or around doors.
Over time this weather stripping breaks down and needs to be replaced. Check the weather stripping around your entry doors and if you don’t notice any on them or it looks worn out, have it replaced before winter truly hits home.
Tip #3: Check all windows for proper seals and drafts.
Over time, windows become less energy efficient. Make sure that the hardware closes properly and that they seal shut. If you feel drafts coming through the glass or around the exterior part of the frame, contact a window professional to come into your home, inspect them, and replace any components or even the entire windows as necessary.