If your furnace is ancient, the winter can be a challenging time for your wallet, but there are ways to protect your budget.
An old appliance means it’s inefficient, so it may take longer to heat your home while it struggles to regulate the temperatures inside. All this extra work means it’s an energy guzzler, and your utility bills will spike every winter.
Luckily, even an old furnace can be coaxed into cost savings. If you’re tired of paying too much on your utility bills each winter, here are some things you can do to cut your costs.
Get a Tune-Up
Regular maintenance can help prolong any appliance’s lifespan by catching minor problems before they blow up into emergencies.
A talented HVAC technician can patch inefficiencies and other mechanical issues that make your furnace work harder than it should. Not only will this help prevent a breakdown in the future, but it will reduce how much energy it uses to heat your home.
Start Thinking About the Future
Unfortunately, a 20-year-old furnace may be living on borrowed time, so small patches might not be enough to stretch it through another five years. Think about this expense the next time you sit down with your budget. The average furnace can cost anywhere between $1000 and $10,000.
Can you set aside enough savings to make this purchase in the future? If your furnace breaks down suddenly, there are emergency online loans that can help you get the repairs or replacement you need.
Online loans work well under pressure. You won’t have to take time out of your day to visit a bank branch to apply. Instead, you can fill out a convenient application online in a matter of minutes any time you need.
Online loans also make it easier to compare your rates and terms, which is an essential step in the borrowing process. At Moneykey.com/emergency-loans/, you can learn more about the two most common online loans (installment loans and lines of credit) and see how they differ.
Eliminate Drafts
A draft — that is, any hole or crevice where hot air escapes — is a menace to your budget. When hot air escapes, cold air from outside flows in to take its place, causing your furnace to work harder.
Luckily, you can stop this energy drain with some simple maintenance. By replacing worn weatherstripping, you can cut your energy costs by 20 percent!
Insulate Your Windows
Your windows may not be doing you any favors, even if their weatherstripping is in mint condition. Its glass is the biggest culprit for energy loss.
In a perfect world, you could renovate all your windows with triple-pane, energy-efficient alternatives, but this task could cost more than a brand-new furnace. And if you would have to take out a loan online to afford an emergency furnace upgrade, then this option is probably out of your budget.
With new windows off the table, consider installing an insulation kit on your windows. These kits stop single-paned windows from leaching away all your heat.
Doing Chores Will Help You Save Money
You may have some time before winter rears its ugly head again, but the coldest season will be here — whether you like it or not. Take the time now to follow these preventative tips to help you reduce how much it costs you.
