In the first post of our ‘Homeowner’s Guide to Winter Preparation’ series, we discussed the importance of insulation in keeping your Grand Rapids area home warm in the winter. While insulation is certainly a crucial part of the equation, there are a number of other factors at play. Specifically, air sealing, windows, and HVAC tune-ups play an important role in the comfort of your home as winter descends on Michigan.
The Impact of Air Sealing
Your furnace works hard all through the winter to produce comfortable, warm air to fill your home. That system works great – unless there are openings around your home allowing the frigid outdoor air to stream inside. If your home is improperly sealed, your furnace will have to work overtime to keep the house warm, and even that might not be enough.
Most likely, you will notice if you have a significant leak around a window or door because you will feel the cold air coming into the house. However, other parts of your home such as the attic and basement can allow cold air to come in unnoticed. By having an experienced Grand Rapids contractor complete an air sealing project on your home, you can eliminate these leaks and keep your home nice and cozy even through the worst of the winter.
Quality Windows
All windows are not created equal. If you want to keep your home warm without running up a huge utility bill at the end of each month, it would be wise to invest in quality windows which are designed to seal up your home properly. Work with a contractor to fit your home with energy-efficient windows and you could start to notice a difference the very first night after they are installed.
HVAC Tune-Ups
Just as your car needs regular maintenance to run properly, so too does your HVAC system. As it pertains to the coming winter months, you should look into having your furnace tuned-up prior to putting it into everyday duty. You likely haven’t fired up the furnace in months, so it would benefit from a check by a professional before you start asking it to keep the house warm.