When the temperature in Calgary drops way down below zero, your furnace is suddenly the busiest appliance in your house. But even the best systems may not perform in a cold snap.
Perhaps it is on all the time without really catching up. Maybe some of the rooms never feel warm. It is best to know what is actually happening and what you can do about it before you start panicking.
Your furnace is laboring hard
When it is very cold, you can only keep your furnace on longer and more frequently to keep the temperature inside the same. When it is the right size, then it will be doing what it is made to do.
If the temperatures are lower outside, your house will lose more heat. That is, warm air gets out more quickly through any openings. As a result, your furnace works continuously.
This unrelenting workload can lead to the feeling that your system is not working so hard. The fact is, it is simply doing what the weather requires.
During extreme cold snaps, your furnace may struggle to maintain a comfortable temperature, leading to increased energy bills and potential system failures. To combat these issues, consider upgrading your HVAC system to ensure it can handle the demands of colder weather. For those in the Newbury Park area, exploring options for ac installation newbury park can provide a more efficient and reliable heating solution. By investing in a modern system, you can improve your home’s energy efficiency and maintain a consistent indoor climate, even during the harshest winter conditions.
Poor Insulation or air leaks
Even the strongest furnace cannot resist poor insulation. Unless your house is well sealed, the heat will escape just as fast as your furnace is making it.
Common problems include:
- Cracks around windows and doors
- Attics or basements that are not insulated
- Leaky ductwork. It allows warm air to escape before it enters your rooms.
An energy audit, which can be done quickly or with the aid of professional help, can reveal your points of heat loss. Plugging those leaks and insulation can lift a massive weight off your furnace, particularly when there is a deep freeze. If your furnace still fails to keep pace, call for a professional furnace repair Calgary.
Dirty air filters
One of the most common, but the simplest cause of a furnace that does not perform well during cold weather is a dirty air filter. A dirty filter slows down the airflow, and your system operates in a strained condition trying to get warm air through the filter.
In winter, when there is a high volume of use, check your filter at least once every few weeks. Change it when necessary. Moreover, conduct routine maintenance, such as cleaning of your burners. That also ensures that your furnace is running efficiently at the time when it is most strained.
Faulty thermostat settings
Some people have a habit of turning the furnace thermostat up and down constantly. That makes the furnace labor more than it needs to be. When it gets cold, set it to a fixed, warm temperature.
If your house does not seem to heat evenly, then run the fan on. Avoid the auto mode. This aids in the even distribution of air in the house. Thereby, it minimizes temperature variations across rooms.
Summing up
Cold snaps test all furnaces. But maybe the problem is not the furnace. It might be how your house retains the heat in. Or a failure to service your system. Proper maintenance, clean filters, and simple modifications can get your furnace to cope with even the coldest Calgary nights.
