No one enjoys paying their heating bill, but for some people, it is especially troubling. Sudden jumps in heating bills that don’t reflect changing weather are troubling. A heating bill that has inched up over months or years to be too high isn’t good news either. If you’re in one of these situations, you might wonder why you’re paying out the nose for heat. Here are four reasons that your heating bill is so high, and a few things you can do about it.
1. Insulation Quality
If heat doesn’t stay in your home, your furnace or other heating system will just keep running, to little effect. There are many reasons that your insulation may be allowing heat out of your home, including:
- Poor installation: If there were gaps in the original installation, then your insulation may do a poor job of keeping the heat in your home.
- Damage: Animal infestation, water intrusion, and other sources of insulation damage can make parts of your insulation completely ineffective.
- Low quality: Insulation quality can make a dramatic difference in how much you pay for heating.
Insulation professionals can assess your insulation for installation, damage, and quality. Sometimes, it’s relatively easy to fix some insulation problems.
2. Window and Door Problems
Gaps in windows and doors can allow your warm air to escape. Even if you have caulking around the windows, that can dry up and shrink, leaving plenty of room for air to escape. Weather stripping on doors can get damaged too. Walking around with a candle can show you where drafts might be impacting your heating, so you know where to focus your repair efforts.
A high heating bill is not the norm. ensure you are only paying for what you need by having the right high-efficiency products in your home. Contact the experts at Woodbridge GTA ClimateCare for help.
3. Ductwork Problems
If your home has a forced-air system, it has ductwork to disperse the hot air that your furnace creates. However, poorly designed duct systems, or those with gaps, can focus too much hot air in some parts of the house, neglecting others. If your ductwork doesn’t allow heat to get to your thermostat, then it could keep sending the signal for your furnace to create more heat, driving up your utility costs.
4. Inefficient Furnace
Lastly, if your furnace was always inefficient, or has become inefficient, then it will drive your utility costs up. There are several things you should consider:
- Age: Older furnaces are not as efficient as newer models. In fact, an old furnace may be less efficient than it was when you first purchased it.
- Broken: Furnaces that have minor problems that don’t stop it from functioning may still have significantly reduced efficiency, using way more fuel to produce the same heat.
- Filter: When was the last time you changed your filter? It can impact the efficiency of your furnace.
Ready to get a lower heating bill? Get personalized, expert advice from our experts at Woodbridge GTA ClimateCare. We can tell you the best ways for you to correct a heating bill that is too high.
