Check Those Sneaky Energy Leaks With Heating Maintenance
Make Sure Your House Is Not Leaking
- Check doors and windows for drafts. Light a match near the seal and see if it’s drafting.
- For cold basements or floors, use closed-cell foam around the foundation rim.
Note: Many homes with basements finished after the initial installation might have inherited a system sized for the home before the addition.
Furnace DIY Upkeep
- Change your filter regularly. One-inch filters are recommended monthly during operating seasons. Larger filters measuring four to five inches can be changed every three months during operating seasons.
- We recommend writing the date on the filter and keeping a log or setting a reminder on your calendar.
Furnace comfort tip: Upgrade to a programmable WiFi-enabled thermostat. TRANE recommends a 4-degree Fahrenheit setback for optimal efficiency and comfort.
You may ask, “What does that mean?” If you like your home or office at 72°, keep the temperature at approximately 68° when you’re away. You’ll find a quick return to your preferred temperature when you get home. With more than a 4° variation, you may use more energy and wait longer for your home to reach a comfortable temperature.
Boiler DIY Upkeep
- Keep the boiler area clean.
- Look for leaks.
- Operate all system valves to the “off” position and back to the “on” position to ensure they work when needed. This should be done annually.
- Check the boiler pressure. A pressure of 15 PSI is optimal for most systems.
Keep Your Systems Running Longer
Join an Annual Maintenance Plan
We offer a “Best Annual Heating Maintenance Membership” to keep your system in tip-top shape and identify problems before they happen. Regular maintenance will help you get the most value, lifespan, and comfort from your home comfort equipment. Besides, who doesn’t love being a member of a great organization? We’ve got a great group of people ready to be on your home team here at Mountain Heating and Cooling. For information about maintenance memberships, visit https://mountainheating.com/maintenance/.
Specializing in forced-air systems, localized Mitsubishi mini-split systems, and hydronic radiant floor and baseboard solutions, Mountain Heating and Cooling has served the Gallatin Valley since 1978. Want to learn more about optimizing, troubleshooting, or updating your home’s heating system? Reach out to Matt Wenger at Mountain Heating and Cooling.
