Four Common Heating Issues During A Minnesota Winter

Fighting the bone chilling cold.

No matter how cold it gets outside, we all want to be warm and cozy inside our homes. Our ancestors had to rely on fireplaces and wood burning stoves for winter warmth. Fortunately we have some very sophisticated heating systems that are far superior. Unfortunately there are also more things that can go wrong, leaving us feeling the cold.

Four common winter heating issues exposed.

Sudden Loss of Heat: While the loss of heat may be sudden, it may take a short while for you to notice the change in temperature. There are several issues that may cause a sudden loss of heat.

• Power Outage: We trust you would notice this one immediately.
   
• Blown Fuse: A sudden surge of power may cause a fuse to blow. Check your fuse-box and look for a secondary fuse near your furnace. If the fuse is blown replace it. If the new fuse blows, call in an expert such as AEM Mechanical Services, Inc. of Hutchinson, Minnesota to determine why.
   
• Malfunctioning Pilot Light: If the ignition system fails or the pilot light does not stay lit you will need to call on an expert to fix the issue in order to restore heat to your home.
   
• Blocked Air Intake: Did you know if your furnace is unable to draw enough outside air it will not run? Check to see that your air intake on the outside of your home is not blocked or frozen over.

Furnace Short Cycling: This is when your furnace turns on and off again quickly preventing your furnace from giving you enough heat to warm your home to a comfortable level. Some common things to check are:

• Air Filter: A dirty or clogged air filter can reduce air flow causing the furnace to short cycle.
   
• Faulty Thermostat: You may also be experiencing issues with a faulty thermostat telling your furnace to turn off to quickly.

Cold Spots: Don't worry finding cold spots in your home doesn't necessarily point to ghosts, there are plenty of more worldly causes that are likely at play.

• A Draft: You may have a window or door that is not tightly closed. There could be faulty weather striping, insulation or "loose construction" that are the cause of your drafts as well. Especially in older homes as newer homes are constructed much more tightly than older homes.
   
• Unbalanced Air Flow: This can be caused by closed vents, improper return air flow, dirty vents, dirty filters and coils. You can easily open closed air vents, clean dirty vents or clear any return air being hindered by the placement of furniture or piles of dirty clothes.

Sky High Utility Bills: Probably the most frightening home heating issue is the how much it costs to heat your home. We live in Minnesota, so we understand we will need to heat our homes most of the year and there is a cost associated with that. However, there can be many reasons for higher than normal heating bills.

• Poor Insulation: Your home may be poorly insulated against the invading cold. The insulation may be too light for the job, it may have been improperly installed or you may not have proper ventilation in your attic.
   
• Drafty House: Here it is again. Older homes are notorious for not being tightly built allowing for drafts.
   
• Improper Heating Components: You may have an undersized furnace or be trying to heat with a system that is not well suited for your home.

If you and your family are finding yourselves over-dressing in your home or wrapping up in blankets to keep warm you may want to give the friendly experts at AEM Mechanical Services, Inc. a call and make your home more comfortable this winter.

For help getting the temperature in your home under control,  call AEM Mechanical Services, Inc. at 320-587-0991.