With temperatures starting to drop in northern New Jersey, have you given your furnace a fall test yet? At JW Pierson Co., we suggest you try running your heating system now to confirm it’s operating correctly. While you’re doing that this fall, there are other ways to prepare your home heating for winter.
Here are six simple steps you can take this fall to boost your home heating efficiency, improve your comfort and lower your energy cost during the cold months ahead.
We always recommend that our customers take advantage of free solar heating — meaning the sunlight you get through your windows. Keeping blinds and curtains open on sunny afternoons will warm up your rooms and reduce how much your furnace or boiler needs to run.
With that in mind, please take a moment to trim any shrubbery or tree branches that might be blocking sunlight from entering your home.
If you have forced air HVAC equipment (a central A/C and/or furnace), then we strongly recommend that you check your air filter once a month during peak heating and cooling seasons. A dirty or clogged filter may restrict airflow to and from your furnace, making it work harder than it needs to. (It’s also not good for your indoor air quality.)
If it’s been a while since you’ve checked your furnace air filter, please do so now and clean or replace it if it’s dirty.
When did you last check the gauge on your heating oil tank? A tank that’s 1/8 full or lower may run out quickly when temperatures drop. JW Pierson has a solution that prevents heating oil run-outs, and it doesn’t cost one extra penny. It’s called automatic delivery. Enroll now, and we’ll handle all the planning for your heating oil deliveries.
Did you know that ceiling fans have a switch to reverse the blade direction? Many homeowners don’t! Try running your fans clockwise at a low speed during the cooler months. It helps push warm air down where you can feel it, letting you lower your thermostat without feeling a difference. You can save about 2% on your annual heating costs by using your furnace or boiler less often!
Your furnace runs more often throughout the season if warmth escapes your rooms. This fall, check for air leaks and fix them with door sweeps, weatherstripping and caulk. Also, consider assessing your home’s insulation. Improving insulation R-value in attics, crawl spaces and basements can save money.
An annual tune-up for your furnace makes a world of difference in its efficiency, reliability and longevity. The expert technicians at JW Pierson Co. are available to inspect, clean and calibrate your system. We’ll catch small issues now so they won’t lead to a breakdown down the line. And we have more availability in the fall to provide furnace maintenance.
Please also consider signing up for one of our affordable service plans, which protect your furnace against many covered repairs and include a complimentary annual tune-up, efficiency inspection and preventative maintenance.
For the most dependable furnace service in Glen Ridge and across Essex, Passaic and Bergen Counties, become a JW Pierson customer.