As the weather starts to turn chilly in Cincinnati and Springboro, several aspects of your home heating system deserve your attention before you can expect efficient performance all season long. Check the following items off your home heating checklist so you’re ready for the cold.

• Schedule HVAC maintenance. Set up annual preventive maintenance for the furnace every fall. Make this a habit the same way you take the car in to have the oil changed. Expect the same types of benefits that you get with regular oil changes, including better fuel efficiency and dependability.
• Have the ductwork sealed and insulated. Leaky ducts allow bitter cold air from unheated spaces, such as the attic, crawl space or garage, to make its way into the living space. Unsealed ducts can also degrade indoor air quality and waste enough energy to noticeably raise your utility bills. When a technician visits your Springboro, Cincinnati home to perform preventive maintenance, ask him to check the ductwork and make any necessary repairs.
• Change the filter. Filter replacement is part of a professional tune-up, but you should check it monthly and change it when dirt appears. A dirty filter blocks airflow, thus making the equipment work harder than necessary. This wastes energy, raises your heating bills and puts undue stress on the system.
• Upgrade your thermostat. Fall is the perfect time to install a programmable thermostat. This investment boosts home heating efficiency as long as you utilize setbacks and other programming techniques for saving energy.
• Consider upgrading your equipment. If your furnace has seen better days, this may be the season to upgrade to a new, high-efficiency model. Combustion furnaces with an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of 95 percent or higher qualify for energy tax credits until the end of 2013. This financial incentive could be the push you need to replace your existing ailing furnace.

Efficient home heating is just around the corner. For help accomplishing the tasks on this checklist, please contact the professionals at Tri-County Heating & Cooling today. We proudly serve Ohio residents in Springboro, Glendale, Symmes Township and Fairfield.

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