Don’t make these 4 huge heating mistakes

Forget what your northern friends say… it gets cold in Florida too! And since most of us don’t have a fireplace, we have to rely entirely on our HVAC system to keep us warm. As our techs go into our client’s homes, we see the same heating mistakes over and over. So we’re here to help you avoid these 4 heating mistakes this winter:

Don’t crank up the heat

You come home to a cold house and crank the thermostat up super high, thinking that will cause your system to work more quickly. Nope. That’s not how it works. Your system will heat at the same speed, whether you increase the setting by 1 degree or 10. So just set the thermostat at your desired temperature and be patient. If your house takes an exceptionally long time to heat up, there may be an issue with your system that needs to be addressed. We’d be happy to help.

Another way to avoid this issue is to install a smart thermostat. These allow you to program your heater to warm up your home before you arrive home. If you’d like to talk about installing a smart thermostat, let us know and we’ll be happy to help.

Don’t shut the vents in empty rooms

This may sound counterintuitive, but your heater will actually work better if you keep all the vents open, even in empty rooms. Remember that your system was designed for a certain number of vents and closing some will cause the heater to work in an unbalanced fashion. The warm air needs to circulate throughout your home in order to warm it properly. So leave those vents open and let your system do its thing.

Don’t keep the light out

During summer, Floridians are used to closing the blinds and curtains to keep the house cool. So in the winter, we need to do the opposite and let the light in. Make a habit of opening blinds, curtains, shutters, and shades in the morning, especially on south-facing windows. You’ll be surprised how much sunlight alone will warm your home.

Don’t ignore drafts

Did you know that simply locking your windows will keep your home warmer? Locking the window creates a seal that keeps out cold air that is desperate to come in. And you can find drafty spots all over your home. On a cold day, take a minute to walk around and place your hand near doors, windows, skylights, kitchen hood vents, sliders, pet doors, and any other openings to the outdoors. If you feel cool air blowing, you have a draft that is working against your heater. Taking time to address these drafty spots will definitely keep your home warmer and require less of your HVAC system.

And here’s a bonus tip. In Florida, the winter is the perfect time to get your HVAC system serviced or replaced. There are two reasons. First, if you have to be without AC for a day or two, it will be much more bearable in the nicer weather. Secondly, HVAC companies like ours are less busy than in the scorching summer months, so we can be even more available to come at your convenience.

Do you need a new install consultation or a maintenance visit? Head to our site to make an appointment.