The approaching winter season is a sign for many homeowners to stock up on food and reinforce their insulation and heating systems. Since colder climates can put you at risk of illnesses and structural complications, it’s best to maintain warm indoor spaces. This is why buying a furnace is crucial in maintaining a safe and comfortable living environment.
Understanding the Ideal Temperature for Indoor Spaces
You don’t have to check for the temperature outside if you’re looking for a sign to turn up your furnace. The World Health Organization (WHO) points to a temperature of between 18–21°C as an ideal indoor temperature range. It’s best for homes with elderly residents or young children.
During colder seasons at the end of the year, you will frequently need your surface by the end of September or the early weeks of October. Using your furnace daily can put a heavy strain on it if you want to conserve energy. Canadians prefer to set their thermostat as low as 16°C for a chilly yet comfortable environment. However, be mindful of having an indoor temperature below 10°C since it can cause you to have colds and affect your home’s pipes over time.
Knowing Your Thermostat’s Contribution to Energy Efficiency
Many homeowners are optimizing their homes by using programmable thermostats to ensure that they’re adapting to the changes in the climate. It’s an excellent way to cut down on your energy costs on your next heating bill. For example, you can increase your heating on days that you need to stave off the drowsiness of early mornings. Alternatively, you can use less energy if you want to stay in bed longer during weekends.
More modern models of furnaces offer smart climate control features that can automatically adjust to the climate, even without your input. Additionally, some furnaces focus on energy efficiency to ensure that you have low energy bills.
Upgrading Your Home’s Furnace
It’s common for most homeowners to buy their home with a built-in furnace. This means that they generally won’t have to use it for the first time. Although it’s a good deal to have for a starter home, it won’t be beneficial to stick to it in the long-term. Like any appliances, furnaces have a limited lifespan that you need to be conscious of. Furnaces generally last for 15-20 years, so it’s best to replace them to avoid having complications with their functionality and power usage.
If you recently have a new furnace installed, you need to go through a few steps to ensure that it’s working well. First, check its thermostat if it’s working properly. Setting it on ‘Auto’ should increase your indoor temperature 4-5°C above its current reading. Afterward, assess your filter’s quality and condition. Although it’s okay to use a pre-installed filter, it’s better to use a filter with a high MERV rating for better absorption of dust particles. This ensures that it can capture smaller sizes of contaminants when filtering your air. Remember that you should do this once every 3 months or when necessary.
Conclusion
Part of preparing for the winter season is booking a furnace tune-up. Doing so ensures that you won’t run into issues with its performance when you need it most. It’s also preferred to book a tune-up before you use a furnace for the first time. With your personal preparations and professional help, you’ll have fewer worries about getting past the inconvenience of the approaching colder climate.
Our trained HVAC experts can handle any repairs or maintenance work for your heating needs. If you need furnace repair in Edmonton and surrounding areas, contact us today!