The best way to heat a house starts with a quality home heating system. Not only is it important to have a quality system, but you’ll also want it installed correctly by an HVAC expert. Sloppy installation can lead to a system that doesn’t work as well as it should. An expert will also be able to help you find the system that best suits your Issaquah, WA home.
Once you have your system properly in place, it will warm your home, but you can also lend it a hand. A lot of home heating tips actually don’t involve your heating system at all! Below are common types of heating systems and extra tips to keep your home warm. When used together, they’ll keep your home comfortable.
Types of home heating systems
1. Split systems
2. Hybrid systems
3. Ductless systems
1. Split systems
A split system is the most common type of heating and cooling system. An indoor unit, or furnace, is the heat source, while the outdoor unit works to cool your home. This type of system is great for reliably maintaining home comfort year-round.
2. Hybrid systems
A hybrid system with a heat pump provides all the heating and cooling benefits with greater efficiency. A heat pump works like an air conditioner when it’s in cooling mode. A heat pump also has a reversing valve that allows it to heat your home as well. On extra chilly days, the furnace takes over as the primary heat source to ensure total home comfort.
3. Ductless systems
Ductless systems allow you to heat or cool your home without the need for ducts. This is great news if you have ducts, or if you simply want a system that doesn’t require them. The lack of ducts also means that installation is less invasive and often less expensive. These systems have an outdoor unit connected to individual wall-mounted units. These units are intended for only the room they’re installed in, so you’ll have separate climate zones throughout your home.
Once you have a great home heating system in place, there are other things you can do to heat your house. Here are tips for how to keep your home nice and warm.
Home Heating Tips
1. Change your air filter
2. Invest in a programmable thermostat
3. Use your drapes
4. Block your chimney
5. Wear layers
6. Seal gaps and cracks
7. Ensure proper insulation
8. Keep vents clear
1. Change your air filter
A dirty filter will strain your system by making it work harder to heat your home. Make sure to keep an eye on your furnace’s air filter and replace it with a clean one when needed. This is an easy step to keep your system heating efficiently and working longer. Read more here to learn the steps to change the filter yourself: How To Change Your Home’s Heating And Air Conditioning Filter.
2. Invest in a programmable thermostat
There’s no sense in blasting the heating system in an empty home. With that in mind, a programmable thermostat can be great. You can program the thermostat to be lower when you’re away and higher when you return in the evening. You can look forward to coming back to a comfortable home without wasting unnecessary heat or energy.
3. Use your drapes
The sun is your ally for naturally helping out your home heating system. On sunny winter days, open your drapes or blinds during the day to allow sunlight to enter your home. When the sun sets, close the drapes to keep the chill out from the cold windows.
4. Block your chimney
Many people don’t even use their fireplaces these days, which means your chimney might only function as a giant hole for heat to escape. Santa only drops down once a year anyway, so consider blocking your chimney. You can do this with something like a chimney balloon, which will help keep warm air in and cold air out.
5. Wear layers
Of course, changing up your outfit doesn’t make your home warmer, but the entire point of heating your home is to keep you and your family warm anyway. You don’t have to crank your thermostat up to 80°F to stay nice and toasty in the winter. Wear a fluffy robe, a comfy hat, or some thick socks.
6. Seal gaps and cracks
Check for gaps and cracks around your doors and window frames. Heat could escape from your home in these places, which could sabotage the efforts of your home heating system. You can correct this by sealing these cracks and gaps to help keep heat inside.
7. Ensure proper insulation
Adequate home insulation is crucial for maintaining indoor temperatures. A home that’s well-insulated will keep cold air inside during the summer and outside in the winter, so make sure your home has plenty of insulation.
8. Keep vents clear
Make sure your heating vents aren’t going directly into a couch. Ensure your vents aren’t being blocked by arranging and moving your furniture to give the vents ample room. This way, heat can move freely.
When the temperature outside starts to plummet in Issaquah, WA, you’ll want to come home to a comfortable house. With a quality home heating system in place and these tips in mind, you’ll have nothing to worry about. And if you still have heating needs, contact us. We can repair your existing system or install a new one if it’s time for a replacement. We can also help with your regular maintenance, which will help prolong the life of your heating system.
