4 Reasons Your Heating Bills Rise in the Winter
If you live in or near Granite City, IL, you’ll almost certainly notice a sudden increase in your heating bills as soon as the winter starts. This can be caused by a number of different reasons, from the downright obvious to the difficult to identify.
Here are the top four reasons why your heating bills will likely be higher in the winter:
1. Simple… Because It’s Cold Outside
The most common reason for elevated heating bills is the most obvious — because it’s winter! The average temperature is colder during this time of year, and as a response, your HVAC system will have to work harder to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.
But… we are sure you already knew that. So, what does it mean when your winter heating bills are higher than you expect them to be, even given the weather outside?
2. A Loss of Efficiency Means Higher Heating Bills
Older furnaces just can’t perform as well as newer ones, mainly due to age. There are many other problems with the filter, the ductwork, and other components of your HVAC system that may contribute to inefficient heating and higher heating bills, but the main culprit tends to be the age of your system.
A professional HVAC service company can look at your furnace and detect any issues that can be repaired to bring your system back up to normal operation — otherwise, you may need to replace the whole thing to save money on your heating bills.
3. Poor Insulation in Your Home
High bills in the winter may also be a sign that warm air from the heater is escaping your home. This leads to the indoor temperature dropping more quicker. In other words, poor insulation and inefficient heating have the same effects: your furnace has to work harder than it needs to.
Not only does this cost more when it’s time to pay the bills, but it also causes your HVAC system to wear out faster because it’s constantly running.
4. Your Heating System is the Culprit
Sometimes, the sensors in the thermostat can cause your heater to run more often than it needs to, and even a few degrees warmer than the temperature you program it to can make a difference in the number of times per day your heat runs and turns off. This, in turn, causes your energy bills to skyrocket in the colder part of the year.
The only way to know for sure why your heating bills are so high is to get the opinion of a trusted professional. Contact Dixon Heating and Air Conditioning to set up a consultation.