5 Home-Heating Problems and How to Solve Them

Is your living room warmer than the kitchen? Does your house feel like a cold cellar? Do you find yourself layering up in your own home? There are a lot of reasons why this might happen, but the good news is, there are a variety of quick and easy solutions to take care of that unmistakable chill inside and make your home more cozy, comfortable and warm.

Here are our Reliance^® expert tips to help solve your home’s heating problems.

1. There’s Low Airflow Coming out the Vents

Furnace filters collect dust and dirt over time. If you’re having issues with your heating, this could be an indicator of a clogged air filter. Dirty furnace air filters can restrict or slow the flow of air, reducing the heating delivered throughout your home. Remember to always clean or replace your air filters as recommended by the manufacturer — usually every 1 to 3 months.

2. You Have Leaky Ducts

Air leaks in your duct system can rob certain rooms or areas in your home of warm air and cause uneven heating. Plus, ductwork leaks can force your furnace to work harder to compensate for the escaping air, leading to even more problems.

3. You Have Too Much Stuff Around Your Furnace

Furnaces need air for combustion. Many furnaces draw this air from around the furnace, so it’s important to make sure there’s enough space surrounding your furnace for that to happen otherwise you might be running into a no heat situation. As well, it should be clear for any maintenance or emergency repair work when needed.

Remember to keep your furnace room floors and the area around furnace equipment free of debris, used filters, boxes or suitcases. And remember to never lean anything against the furnace. Check out more furnace room safety tips here.

4. You Aren’t Harnessing the Power of the Sun

While it’s not exactly a high-tech solar power solution, naturally heating your home by opening the blinds in sunny spots during the day lets heat from the sun stream in — even in the dead of winter — and that could help give a hand to your furnace when it needs it most. Remember to close the blinds again when the sun goes down to help conserve the heat and insulate the room. Plus, this counts as energy-efficient heating!

5. Your Furnace Needs a Repair

You’ve changed the filters, made sure that your thermostat is on and set to heat. You’ve done a perimeter check to make sure nothing is blocking any vents and your circuit breaker is looking fine. If you’ve discovered any items on this checklist – or something else doesn’t seem right – don’t hesitate to call us. There could be an issue with your furnace that requires a professional repair. Find out more about furnace repairs here.

Still having challenges with the heating in your home or need suggestions to make your home more comfortable? While you’re here, check out our Ultimate Furnace Guide to learn more or simply Call on Reliance^® today— our expert Advisors are always here to help you out!