24 Sep Top 10 Fall Tips: Get More Comfort for Less Money

That chill-in-the air feeling is back for fall, with higher heating bills sure to follow. The experts at Cliff Bergin & Associates know it can be hard to balance costs and comfort, so we’re sharing our top 10 fall comfort tips to help you stay warm without overworking your furnace.

Our Top Fall Comfort Tips

1. 1. 1. Change Your Furnace Filters. Filters full of dust, pet hair, and cobwebs block airflow and make your system work harder to keep air moving. Check your furnace filters regularly and change them before you have a problem.
      2. Check Your Registers. A furnace works best when all registers are fully open and unobstructed by furniture, curtains, or boxes. Check them at the beginning of every season to make sure nothing is standing between you and warm air.
      3. Give Your Furnace Some Space. You should also check your basement to make sure your storage area isn’t encroaching on your heating system. For air to circulate and avoid fire hazards, leave three to five feet of open space around your entire furnace.
      4. Time for a Tuneup. A properly maintained furnace lasts longer, needs fewer repairs, and lowers your monthly energy bills because it runs more efficiently. We recommend a fall furnace Clean & Check to help your system run better and prevent a no-heat emergency.
      5. Maintain the Right Humidity Levels. Your home’s ideal humidity level during winter months is 35 to 50 percent. Using a humidifier to keep air from drying out helps retain heat, is healthier for allergy and asthma sufferers, and is better for wood floors and furnishings.
      6. Plan Ahead With Programmable Thermostats. Programmable thermostats not only offer the convenience of pre-setting temperatures around your schedule, but they also reduce monthly energy costs and help your furnace deliver heat more efficiently.
      7. Consider Ceiling Fans. Many people associate ceiling fans with summer, but they’re just as beneficial during winter. As heat rises, ceiling fans help push warm air back down to even out a room’s overall temperature.
      8. Seal Windows and Doors. Check for drafts, then caulk or seal windows and doors to keep heat in and the cold out. An attached garage is one of the biggest culprits—make sure your garage door closes tightly to the ground and there are no drafts coming from its sides or top.
      9. Get Cooking. Cooking and baking during colder months is not only a tasty idea, but it gives your furnace a break, too. Never leave your oven on with the door open to heat a room, but the heat generated during safe cooking can raise the temperature in your kitchen and surrounding rooms by a few degrees.
      10. Insulate as You Decorate. Area rugs and drapes help make rooms look and feel cozier, with the added benefit of being an easy way to give your home a fresh look without breaking the bank.

There’s No Substitute for Reliable Heating Service

While there are lots of things you can do to make your home more comfortable and efficient, you will always need a heating company you can trust for furnace maintenance, repairs, or replacement. Cliff Bergin is proud to be that company for thousands of families in Mequon and Milwaukee’s northern suburbs. Because we’re also a Carrier® Factory Authorized Dealer, we’re the better choice for delivering the highest quality heating, cooling, and air quality services—plus plumbing repairs and water conditioning—for less. Find out for yourself—schedule an appointment online or give us a call anytime.