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What Are Heating Systems?
A heating system is a device, system, or appliance that provides warmth to a building. There are many types of heaters available for different needs. In this article, we will be looking at the role of heating systems and why they often fail to keep you warm.
The Role Of Heating Systems
We all want to keep our homes warm and cosy during the winter months. Unfortunately, no matter how much we try, it’s sometimes hard to maintain a comfortable temperature in the house. It may seem like a minor issue, but if your home isn’t staying warm enough, it can have a significant effect on your quality of life.
Low temperatures impose psychological stress and can even lead to severe health complications. Regardless of if you have a heat pump or an old-school furnace, the mechanics work the same way in every home. But when there is a problem with installation or maintenance, these heating methods can fail in certain temperatures. As a homeowner, you know that winter means cold.
It means curling up with a mug of hot cocoa and reading a good book or watching your favourite TV show. If you’re not able to heat your home, all of these things are out of the question. Most people know how to heat their homes, but some homeowners find themselves confused about what’s wrong with their heating system. The thermostat could be set too high or too low, or something could be wrong with the heating system itself.
Heating your home during the colder months can be a real struggle. It can be hard to get the temperature to stay just right, and sometimes it just feels impossible to keep warm. But what if you’re doing something wrong? Is it possible that your heating system is not properly functioning? Here are some reasons you might not be able to heat your home.
Reasons You Have Trouble Heating Your Home
The thermostat setting
The thermostat is a common culprit for an uncomfortable home. The constant fluctuation of temperature can leave you feeling itchy and scratching, which is a sign of a low humidity level. If your thermostat is set above or below the ideal temperature, you might be noticing some unpleasant symptoms of poor heating.
If you have a digital thermostat, it’s easy to adjust the temperature setting from your phone or computer. You can even program your thermostat with the perfect temperature before you go to bed at night, and when you wake up in the morning, you are ready to go!
Your heating system needs to be serviced
One of the most prevalent reasons individuals cannot heat their homes is that they need to get their heating system serviced. Every few years, you should do this to keep the system up to date and running smoothly.
A qualified HVAC technician can inspect your system and make necessary heater repairs to keep it running smoothly and efficiently. If you’re not sure what’s wrong with your heating system, a technician can find out and fix it for you.
You cannot afford an annual contract
It’s expensive to heat your home, which is why it makes sense to sign an annual contract with a heating company. This way, you can save some money on monthly utility bills. All hardware and facilities need maintenance and care. Signing up for an annual contract removes the worry about the whole heating system misfiring, leaving the maintenance to the pros.
If you don’t want to sign an annual contract, you might be able to get a better deal if you go with a heating provider that offers month-to-month contracts. Other providers provide no-contract discounts. Whatever option you choose, make sure it works for your budget and will allow you to stay comfortable throughout the winter months.
Your home has too many windows
Large windows allow for maximum natural light, but they can also result in heat loss. If you have too many windows and few sources of insulation, the cost to heat your home will go up.
If you find yourself struggling to keep the inside of your home warm despite having a sound heating system and thermostat setting, check your windows.
The furnace is old and inefficient
If your furnace is not running as efficiently as it should, then you might be having trouble heating your home. Check the filter on the vents to ensure it’s clean and clear of anything that could block the airflow. If there is dirt or debris on it, take time to clean it.
Check for cracks in the furnace or heat exchanger as they can cause heat to escape without reaching your home. If you find any, contact a professional for repairs before you continue using it. If you’re still experiencing problems with your furnace after investing time in these steps, then it may be time for new equipment altogether.
Air leaks in the house
An air leak is one problem that can lead to your house not heating well. This is typically true if you reside in an older home; the air leak will only worsen over time. Air leaking through walls and windows is uncomfortable and will make it difficult to heat your whole house, which will leave you with cold areas like the basement or attic.
A leaky duct is an invisible problem that is hard to point out to ensure higher energy efficiency. How do you check for such leaks? Use incense near a duct and check for the direction of movement of smoke. This will tell you if there is a leak. Fortunately for you, there are copious things you can do to address this issue.
You could seal off any cracks in the house’s exterior or install weather-stripping around doors and windows to keep out draughts. You can also buy a dehumidifier for the basement or attic if it gets extremely cold during the winter months. Using a humidifier in an otherwise dry environment can help people feel warmer, making you more comfortable.
The air in a dry environment can feel frigid, and it can be hard to feel warm. Humidifiers add moisture to the air and make the air feel warmer. If you have a humidifier running in your home during the winter, it’s also essential to use a humidistat to avoid getting too humid in your home. All of these solutions will help keep warm air inside of your home while exhausting any cool air.
Your furnace could be mouldy
Moisture building up in and around the building will result in poor insulation. This is a perfect environment for the growth of moulds. If you smell dampness or something off, hire an experienced professional to clean the HVAC system.
Pilot light or ignition control problems
Whether modern or not, furnaces require an ignition system, a surface ignition, or an intermittent pilot. A malfunction or mechanical failure on either of the parts can cause little or no heat to flow and circulate in the house.
Check for messy ductwork
Can you remember when you had your air ducts cleaned? If not, then it’s time to have it serviced. Accumulation of dust and dirt reduces the efficiency of the system, causing uneven heating.
Poor layout of your home
The reason for the uneven heating of the house may just be how the whole place is structured and set up. Size up the apartment and know what works for your space before anything is installed. Most homes have different needs in terms of cooling and heating.
Houses with higher ceilings and attics put a strain on the HVAC system since hot air rises, leaving the downstairs cooler. The result is rooms upstairs and the attic being too hot for life itself. The floors are a source of heat loss, especially if it’s wood or simply bare floorboards that are carpeted. Tiles, too, have a cold feel, which causes heat loss.
Unoccupied rooms being left open
Close off any unoccupied rooms or areas in your home that are not heated by your furnace or fireplace.
Check the condition of insulation
If you have an attic or basement which is unfinished, check that there’s enough sprayed foam insulation or natural fibre insulation such as old blankets and sheets. Being inexpensive and having rolls of fiberglass can make a huge difference. Alternatively, you could have more spray foam added.
Inappropriate clothing for cold weather
Get some extra warm clothes out of storage and make some room in your dresser drawers for them.
Not using a space heater
If you don’t want to use a furnace or fireplace, space heaters can be a good alternative. Be sure to follow all safety instructions before using one.
Failure to prevent draughts
Check around windows, doors, and vents to make sure they’re closed tightly.
Why Is Your House So Cold?
As previously stated above, there are a number of reasons why your house feels cold even though you’re burning enough wood. The most common reason is that the chimney isn’t working correctly. This means that the smoke from the wood is not being drawn up into the chimney, which can lead to a build-up of creosote and tar in the chimney. These two elements are fire hazards and have been known to cause fires.
It’s essential to have your chimneys checked regularly by a professional to ensure they’re working correctly and to clear any blockage that may be present. Another reason for this feeling could be that there is too much air coming into your home through open windows or doors, which will cool down the inside of your home and make it feel colder than it actually is.
Contact Experts To Fix Your Heating Problem
Heating systems are the backbone of every home. They provide warmth to your cold house during the winter months and make sure that you don’t have to worry about the cold air during the cold season. However, they often fail because there are a lot more factors involved in running a heating system than before.
One such factor is the outdoor air temperature which has been on an upward trend in recent years due to climate change and global warming. If you find that your heating system isn’t working, you should contact a professional to come and diagnose the problem.
The sooner you find a solution, the better because heating system problems often get worse, real fast if left to continue.
