Foundation cracks can let cold air in causing your furnace work harder. During the fall season the winds can blow in gusts as fast as the cars riding on the expressway. For instance, today in Northern Kentucky and the entire Cincinnati Tri-State area we are experiencing wind gusts up to 65mph. Wow!! If your home is not protected in the right way, the winds will blow right through the cracks resulting in a bone chilling reduction of temperature in your house. The end result, is your furnace must work harder than it should. To avoid costly furnace repairs, here are some tips you can use to help seal the house up and keep the cold air out!
First, take a walk around the house. Do some rooms tend to be colder than others? Why is that? Sometimes it's as simple as the way your ventilation system is set up in your house. Other times it could be that the window needs repair and is letting in cold air. The first step of avoiding furnace repairs is to identify the spots cold air might be leaking in and causing your furnace to work harder than necessary.
The next step is to grab the caulk. That's right, on your search around the house you probably discovered some places that could use a better seal such as the bathtub or lighting fixtures. Make sure you've checked the foundation for any cracks and also the gas and electric service areas. Fill in any cracks with the caulk. If it's in a noticeable place, smooth it out with a putty knife. Don't be shy about it. You might be surprised at how much warmer your house is naturally when these leaks are sealed. Every bit helps increase the efficiency of your furnace!
The third step you can take to help avoid furnace repairs is grab the measuring tape and measure all windows and doors. If any of them are letting in even the slightest cold air leak you can stop it immediately by simply using some weather stripping from your local hardware store. Write down your measurements to make sure you get enough and then just follow the directions on the package you buy. This is an easy step that is one of the most important during the fall and winter seasons.
The last step to take in order to seal your home up properly and help increase the efficiency of your furnace is to check all doors in the house that lead to the outside, or lead to an unheated part of the home such as a garage. Unlike other doors in the house, the ones leading to the exterior will most likely have heavier air flow and be used more often than other doors. This requires a heavier weather stripping usually made of foam. You might also consider installing what is known as a door "sweep" or "shoe." These help block the flow of air from coming under the door and into your home.
Be proactive this season and properly equip your home by following these easy steps to keep the cold air out and increase the efficiency of your furnace. By making your furnace work less hard, you can increase the life and avoid costly furnace repairs that may creep up unexpectedly.
First, take a walk around the house. Do some rooms tend to be colder than others? Why is that? Sometimes it's as simple as the way your ventilation system is set up in your house. Other times it could be that the window needs repair and is letting in cold air. The first step of avoiding furnace repairs is to identify the spots cold air might be leaking in and causing your furnace to work harder than necessary.
The next step is to grab the caulk. That's right, on your search around the house you probably discovered some places that could use a better seal such as the bathtub or lighting fixtures. Make sure you've checked the foundation for any cracks and also the gas and electric service areas. Fill in any cracks with the caulk. If it's in a noticeable place, smooth it out with a putty knife. Don't be shy about it. You might be surprised at how much warmer your house is naturally when these leaks are sealed. Every bit helps increase the efficiency of your furnace!
The third step you can take to help avoid furnace repairs is grab the measuring tape and measure all windows and doors. If any of them are letting in even the slightest cold air leak you can stop it immediately by simply using some weather stripping from your local hardware store. Write down your measurements to make sure you get enough and then just follow the directions on the package you buy. This is an easy step that is one of the most important during the fall and winter seasons.
The last step to take in order to seal your home up properly and help increase the efficiency of your furnace is to check all doors in the house that lead to the outside, or lead to an unheated part of the home such as a garage. Unlike other doors in the house, the ones leading to the exterior will most likely have heavier air flow and be used more often than other doors. This requires a heavier weather stripping usually made of foam. You might also consider installing what is known as a door "sweep" or "shoe." These help block the flow of air from coming under the door and into your home.
Be proactive this season and properly equip your home by following these easy steps to keep the cold air out and increase the efficiency of your furnace. By making your furnace work less hard, you can increase the life and avoid costly furnace repairs that may creep up unexpectedly.
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