Winters in Tennessee may be mild, but no one likes to spend more on heating than they have to. There are plenty of easy steps you can take to reduce your home heating costs this season, such as contacting a furnace maintenance technician in Nashville. Annual maintenance of your HVAC system will improve efficiency, reduce costs, and reduce the risk of having serious furnace problems in the middle of winter.

Schedule an annual furnace maintenance visit.

Heating maintenance experts recommend scheduling this appointment in the fall, before you turn on the heat for the first time. The technician will go through a list of tasks to keep your furnace working at maximum efficiency. These tasks include:

  • Test the thermostat calibration.
  • Do an amp-draw test.
  • Check for leaky vents.
  • Check for corrosion on the heat exchanger.
  • Check for blockages in the air intake grills.
  • Lubricate all moving parts.
  • Check and replace the air filter.
  • Clean the system of dirt and dust.

Get your air ducts cleaned

Consider getting your air ducts cleaned when you schedule your annual furnace maintenance. If substantial amounts of grime and dust have accumulated in the ductwork, it can reduce airflow and lower the efficiency of your HVAC system.

Reduce air drafts around exterior doors

Going in and out of your home frequently will naturally force your heating system to work harder, but you could also be losing heated air when the door is closed. Turn off any interior lights and check to see if daylight is visible around the door. If so, it’s time to replace the worn-out weather stripping. This is a simple task that most homeowners would feel comfortable handling themselves. Usually, all that’s required is to pull off the old weather stripping and fasten on the new product.

Stop air leakage through electrical boxes

The electrical boxes hidden behind light switch plates are a commonly overlooked source of air leakage. They can contribute to a higher heating bill because insulation is often not installed properly on them. Take off the cover plates on your exterior walls, and add some foam sealant to the open spaces. Tack on a foam gasket before replacing the cover plate.