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You don’t like looking at your monthly bills during winter because they’re steeper than you’re used to. The increase might be due to a rise in the local cost of electricity and natural gas. You might also be using your heater for longer than usual because people are staying home more often.
But if neither of these explanations fit, there may be another problem you need to have fixed. Below are four of the most common causes for a rise in heating costs.
#1. You forgot to change the air filter
This is the most common reason for heating costs to suddenly rise. The clogged air filter in a furnace or heat pump can cause numerous troubles, but the most immediate of which is the extra strain placed on the blower fan. And this extra strain will cause heating costs to rise. Thankfully, this is easy to fix: you only have to change the clogged filter. To keep this from happening again, set a regular schedule to change the filter. We recommend every one to three months, although it depends on the filter strength.
#2. You’ve been setting the thermostat incorrectly
It’s often easy to fall into bad habits with how to operate the thermostat, especially if you aren’t certain what good habits you were following in the first place. There are two basic mistakes to watch out for.
First, setting the thermostat too high. Try not to set the thermostat higher than 68°F during the day when people are home, and then lower it by 8°F at night. Second, constantly adjusting the thermostat up and down based on whims of comfort. Both of these will place an extra workload on your heating system that isn’t necessary to have indoor comfort. (If you have to keep adjusting the thermostat because you can’t get comfortable, this is a warning that something is wrong with the thermostat or heater.)
#3. The heater has a hidden repair issue
If you can’t find a simple explanation for the cost increase, it may be pointing toward a hidden malfunction in the HVAC system. It may not have affected heating capacity yet, but something is causing the heater to work harder to reach its target temperature. Call professional HVAC technicians to diagnose the problem and have it repaired.
#4. The heater is aging and ready to be replaced
Is your heater at or near the end of its estimated service life? If so, this rise in the cost to run the heater is a sign the system is in decline toward a final breakdown. Repairs may be able to get the system to work for longer, but they will probably be too expensive to be worth it. Our experts will give you an honest assessment of the system’s future and whether it’s time to have a new heater installed.
We’re here to help!
Whatever HVAC service in Phoenixville, PA you need to help you corral heating costs or improve heating performance, you can rely on the Michall Daimion team to handle it. We’re family-run, locally-operated, and it’s our mission to provide Main Line homeowners with the best options for safe, healthy, and comfortable living environments.
Trust to Michall Daimion Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. The Main Line’s Premier Service Provider since 1976.