Posted by Greenpark on February 24 / 2022
The weather in Ontario this year has been a cold one. Several cold snaps have brought the temperature down to -20 degrees Celsius or colder in the Greater Toronto Area, and we still have colder days on the horizon.
If your home is heated by natural gas, you also may have noticed an uptick in your bill, on account of the federal carbon tax and surging demand for oil and natural gas as pandemic travel restrictions are lifted.
In other words, it’s a good time to make sure you’re getting the most out of your furnace. Here are a few low-cost, low-effort tips to ensure you’re heating your home as efficiently as possible.
- Service your furnace Servicing your furnace frequently will off-set possible future problems that could be costly. This is also recommended to ensure your furnace is running safely.
- Shut the door to unused rooms And close the vents. It’ll heat the rooms you are using more efficiently. But don’t do this in the basement, Canadian Living suggests, it’ll make the first floor feel colder.
- Open your curtains/blinds when it’s sunny, close them otherwise Curtains/blinds stop heat from escaping through windows, which tend to be less insulated than your walls. When it’s sunny open them to let the heat in.
- Program your thermostat Another tool that’s worth the investment: a programmable thermostat. This will allow you to cut back on costs when you’re at work or sleeping, and ensures the house is comfortable when you wake up or come home. Ottawa Home Services recommends setting it at 21 degrees Celsius when you’re home but lowering it to 18 when you’re away. Set it too low and you risk offsetting your savings by forcing your furnace to work overtime reheating the home.
- Run ceiling fans more, and bathroom or hood fans less Ceiling fans aren’t just for cooling off, they can also circulate warm air through the room from the top down. And while bathroom and hood fans are great for clearing the air, they can also pull the heat out of the room, so be mindful that you’re not running them more than you need to.
- Leave your oven open There’s a lot of residual heat left in your oven after dinner that can heat up the room, if you leave the oven door open until it cools down.
- Clear your vents and seal the drafts Simple weather stripping helps to keep the cold out, and a blocked or unintentionally closed vent is frequently the culprit for uncomfortably chilly rooms.
- Heat your body first, then your home We’re just as eager as you are to get back in our shorts and t-shirts, but right now it pays to dress cozier. Socks, sweaters, and warm clothes are the key to keeping your furnace from working overtime and your costs down.
If you’re looking for a new home, consider Greenpark Group. We have several upcoming communities across the GTA and beyond. And don’t worry, they’re all very well heated.