How to Prepare Your Furnace Before Winter

The health and effectiveness of your HVAC system goes beyond the specific specs and technology in your furnace or AC. The actions you take every day impact how you use energy and how your HVAC system does its job. We recommend implementing these winterization tips as the colder months approach to give your furnace the little boost it needs to get you through the winter.

Add Weatherstripping to Your Doors

Heating efficiency is lost mostly through drafts and air leaks in your home. Even if you have a top of the line Energystar rated furnace, heat pump, or boiler, it won’t efficiently heat your home if all that warm air is leaking outside.

One common area where heat is lost is under your doorways. The solution is called weatherstripping. For only a couple of bucks, you can slide a draft guard underneath your door and seal the bottom. If you want to install full weatherstripping, most can be installed without removing your door. It just involves adding seals to the door frame to ensure heat is always kept in. Installation is easy, but you’ll need to measure and cut the weatherstripping to fit your doorway. If you go with wooden weatherstripping you’ll need to hammer in some nails as well. Other materials usually come with an adhesive.

Seal Your Windows

Sealing your doors can be much more involved than sealing the other main source of drafts and air leaks. You have a lot of options for window sealing. Common solutions are insulation films and weatherstripping tape.

Insulation film is a clear plastic wrap that adheres to your entire window. If installed properly, this won’t affect your view at all. Weatherstripping tape goes around the edges of the window and seals up any leaks. Both are very cost-effective options to lower your heating bill this winter.

Switch to Double or Triple-paned Windows

If you’re hoping to increase efficiency for all months of the year, consider installing double or even triple-paned windows. This is more common in New York than other states, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), but they also estimate that 30% of homes lack this energy saver. If you haven’t gotten them installed, adding those extra layers to your windows can hold in heated air in the winter and cool, air-conditioned air in the summer.

Use Heavy Drapes and Rugs

If you’ve sealed your doors and windows, you’re already in a great spot, but the following tips can help you retain even more heat. If you switch to heavy winter drapes, make sure you leave them open for sun-facing windows during the day for free solar heating. When the sun goes down, close the drapes and enjoy your warm and cozy home. Rugs add a layer of insulation above your floor which can prevent heat loss as well as add a new style to your home.

Insulation

Even the most heavy-duty rug is going to have difficulty warming up a floor that above a non-insulated or poorly insulated basement. In the winter, your basement is in constant contact with freezing cold earth. If you don’t have adequate insulation you’ll be losing a ridiculous amount of heat.

Buy a Smart Thermostat

A programmable thermostat will cost around $70, and a smart thermostat around twice that amount, but you could save a lot more than that in the long run. Your system can be programmed for your schedule and with a smart thermostat, you can even change the temperature through an app on your phone.