When winter is around the corner, many homeowners gear up to keep their homes warm and cozy. However, some of them go searching for help in the wrong place.
For example, while it’s true that your fireplace can play an important role in keeping your home comfortable, there are plenty of other things you can do to ensure that you stay warm, healthy, and save money during winter.
If you want to save on your energy bills, avoid these five winter heating myths.
Space Heaters Are More Effective Than A Furnace
A big misconception is that space heaters are more effective than a furnace at heating your house. This isn’t true, as they only heat a very small space and use a lot of energy. The best way to keep your home warm during winter is to have an HVAC professional install a furnace in your home.
A furnace will move air throughout your entire home, creating even temperatures and warmth. Space heaters can be extremely dangerous as well. If you place them near combustible materials like curtains or furniture, they could cause a fire.
You Save Money by Keeping Temps Consistent
This is a popular idea, but unfortunately, not true. Consistently high heating can actually drive up your energy bill. This is because you end up using more fuel to heat areas that aren’t occupied. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t turn off your thermostat but adjust it when no one is in a room.
You can save money by keeping your house temperatures slightly lower at night or during periods of short occupancy, then bumping it back up when people are home.
Fireplaces Are A Great Way to Heat A Home
Fireplaces might look romantic and can ignite a cozy vibe. But when it comes to heating your home, they are one of those old-school methods that can make little sense.
They only heat a small part of your home, pushing you to look for other ways to make the rest of the rooms comfortable. Moreover, you could spend a lot of money on fuel or wood to keep a fireplace going all winter long. Lastly, let’s not forget about the time you’ll need to clean out all the ashes.
Closing Vents in Unused Rooms Saves Money
If you are still shutting vents in unused rooms to conserve energy, it’s time to get over that flawed belief. Not only is it a winter heating misconception but it also poses safety risks in your home.
When faced with a small flame or smoke from something like woodstove ashes or cigarette butts, closing vents will trap smoke and heat instead of pulling fresh air into your home through other vents. It can also lead to carbon monoxide buildup as well, which is deadly.
Ceiling Fans Are Only for The Summer
Fans are great at helping to circulate warm air. This means they can keep your house cool in summer and warm in winter. Even better, if you set your ceiling fan on low when you go to bed at night, it can help pull cold air out of your home while you sleep so that you wake up to a warmer room.
This may not be something that will matter much during extreme weather events but is definitely worth using in mild winters and summers. What’s more ceiling fans are fairly inexpensive compared to other heating and cooling appliances. So, they are a valuable investment for keeping energy bills down.
When it comes to winter heating your home, don’t let common misconceptions steer you in the wrong direction. Whether you are considering installing a new home heating system or simply want to save money on your energy bills, it’s best to consult a professional.
At Airsmiths Cooling & Heating, our experts will ensure that you keep warm without wasting a fortune on unnecessary winter heating ways. Contact us today for more information about your home heating needs.
