Four Home Heating Myths Every Homeowner Should Know

Whether it’s changing the ceiling fan direction clockwise for warmer air in winter or keeping a furnace healthy with regular maintenance, there’s always something new to learn about owning a house. That’s why it’s important to know which homeownership tips are true and which are simply old wives’ tales, especially when it comes to keeping your house warm. The experts at Gross Heating & Air Conditioning are here to help bust some of those home heating myths and help you maintain a worry-free home.

Myth #1: A Bigger Furnace Will Solve Uneven Temperatures

It’s true that unit size matters for proper home temperature, but not in the way you might think. Your heating system should be properly sized according to your home’s unique layout—if your furnace is too big, it will heat your home in short bursts, preventing the warmth from spreading evenly through your home. If the furnace is too small, it will run for a longer period to hit your desired temperature—and during cold weather, it may not reach that point at all. This adds more stress on the unit, as well as money to your energy bill.

If your system isn’t working properly, it’s likely due to other problems, such as leaky ducts, inefficient home insulation, or a poor unit installation. If that’s the case, it may be time to call an expert for help.

Myth #2: For More Efficient Heating, Close Vents in Empty Rooms

This may sound like common sense, but shutting vents or ducts to rooms you don’t often use actually puts more stress on your home comfort systems. A properly sized furnace is designed to heat your specific house layout. When it doesn’t have access to a specific room, that system works overtime to try to heat that area, which can wear down the furnace and increase air pressure in your ducts. That inefficiency can cause higher energy bills and your system—or even your ductwork—to need repairs.

Myth #3: Turning the Thermostat Higher Will Heat Your House Faster

Your furnace heats your home at the same speed, regardless of how high you set your thermostat. The system will simply run for longer in order to hit that target temperature, which will use more energy than necessary and cost you more in the long run—not to mention possibly overheating you and your family in the process.

Myth #4: You Only Need to Replace Your Air Filter Once a Year

The air filter in your home does more for your comfort than you may realize—it’s like the unsung hero of heating, cooling, and indoor air quality. It catches all kinds of dust, dander, and bacteria and prevents it from circulating through the house. Eventually, those contaminants dirty up the filter, which stops fresh air from flowing through your home. Replace air filters every one to three months (or, for high-efficiency filters, every six to 12 months) for optimal indoor air quality.

For More Home Comfort Knowledge, Turn to the Experts at Gross Heating

At Gross Heating, we do more than bust common home heating myths. Our pros go the extra mile to keep your heating, cooling, and indoor air quality systems up to snuff, including installing and repairing Carrier® systems. No matter the job, we’ll be there to help you out—all you have to do is call us at 262-783-6000 or contact us online.