Fight the Freeze & Keep Comfortable

Avoid These Home Heating Mistakes This Winter

For some, staying warm means venturing into the bitter cold, shoveling coal or chopping wood. For most, though, attaining total home comfort takes no more effort than flipping a switch on a thermostat. And with Chicago’s notoriously frigid winters, we all tend to rely on that switch to turn on our gas-, steam- or oil-fired heating units around the clock.

So, as an expert in boiler and furnace repair in the Chicago North Shore, American Vintage Home wants to help ensure that your heating system won’t suddenly malfunction and your energy bills won’t skyrocket during these bone-chilling months.

Are You Breaking Your Heating Unit?

It happens every winter—the phones ring at American Vintage Home because people are waking up to find that their heaters aren’t working properly. And while we are always available to help restore your heat, our experts want to help homeowners avoid a sudden breakdown altogether. After all, many issues can be prevented.

So, rather than worrying about waking up on the coldest night of the year without heat or opening an envelope to an outrageously expensive bill, you can rest assured that you’ll be warm and cozy by avoiding these common furnace or boiler mistakes.

• Skipping routine maintenance. Your car gets scheduled maintenance to ensure that it’s running safely and efficiently. You visit a physician for a check-up to make sure that your health is in order. So, why skip out on giving your comfort system the TLC it needs? All too often, homeowners wait for a noticeable issue before tending to their furnace or boiler, which results in a larger, more expensive problem. Going forward, be sure to schedule routine maintenance, even if everything seems to be functioning properly, to boost your unit’s performance, minimize costly repairs and lower your utility bills.
• Failing to clean or replace the filter. One of the most overlooked steps in heating maintenance, failing to clean or change the filter can prevent air from properly circulating into your home. When this happens and a filter is clogged, your system needs to work harder and longer to heat your home—shortening your unit’s lifespan and causing your energy bills to skyrocket. So, as you’re running your unit from sun up until sun down, make an effort to change or clean your filter every 30 days.
• Blocking air registers. Many homeowners mistakenly place furniture or even curtains on top or in front of registers. Of course, this prevents air from being distributed properly. So, perform a visual inspection throughout your home and check that your registers are clear of any obstructions.
• Ignoring warning signs. While some boiler and furnace problems can occur without warning, most issues can be caught early on by recognizing the tell-tale signs that something is wrong. All season long, pay particular attention to the following: unusual noises coming from your system, a significant increase in energy bills, activation of the carbon monoxide detector or uneven heat distribution from room to room.
• Procrastinating on replacing your system. While a furnace or boiler can be a big investment, there comes a point where it is more financially prudent to buy and replace your system. If it’s frequently breaking down or if it’s more than 10 years old, your hard-earned money would be better spent on a new, more efficient unit.

Warm Up to Winter with American Vintage Home

Our team at American Vintage Home wants you to not just survive Chicago’s unforgiving winters, but thrive in them. Whether you’re in need of boiler maintenance in Wilmette, IL, thermostat installation in Oak Park, IL, or furnace repair in Evanston, IL, we’re here to help ensure that you and your family are never left in the cold.

To learn more about our services, schedule an appointment online or call American Vintage Home at (847) 999-4595 today.