• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Services
    • HVAC
      • Charlottesville HVAC
      • Charlottesville Heating Repair — Same Day Service
      • HVAC Maintenance Plans
      • Hydronic Heating Systems
      • Heat Pumps
      • A/C Repair – Same Day Service
      • Air Cleaners, Humidifiers, & Dehumidifiers
      • Ductwork Install & Repair
      • Heating and Cooling
      • Seasonal Heating and Cooling
    • Plumbing
      • Charlottesville Plumbers
      • Sewers and Drains
      • Well Pump Systems
      • Main Water Line Repairs
      • Acid Neutralizers
      • Water Softeners
      • Water Heaters
      • Plumbing Fixture Installation
      • Video Inspections
      • Water Filtration Systems
    • Electrical
      • Charlottesville Electricians
      • Electric Panel Installation & Upgrades
      • Lighting and Fixture Installation
      • Rewiring
      • Electrical Circuit Installation & Repair
    • Generator Repair & Installation
    • Whole House Maintenance
    • Emergency Repair Services: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical
  • About
    • About Fitch Services
    • Reviews
    • Remodeling & New Construction
    • Comprehensive Services for Home
    • Job Openings
  • FAQ
    • FAQ: Heating And Cooling
    • FAQ: Electric
    • FAQ: Plumbing
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Fitch Services

Fitch Services
Neighborhood Faves Award Winner 2024 Charlottesville Family Favorite Award Winner 2020 Nextdoor Neighbor Favorite - 2019 Winner - Fitch Services, Charlottesville VA Best of HomeAdvisor - 2018 Winner

Charlottesville HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Services

Call us today! (434) 296-9980

Prepare for the Cold with These Fall and Winter Heating Tips

October 17, 2023 by Nick Stone

Prepare for the Cold with These Fall and Winter Heating Tips

Getting your heating system ready for fall and winter weather should greatly concern you as a homeowner. The heating system is the lifeblood of the home during the colder months of the year, and the cost of heating your home during this time is probably one of your biggest upcoming expenses. These fall and winter heating tips will help you prepare your heating system and reduce the cost of keeping your interior toasty warm.

Table of Contents

  • Fitch Service’s Top 7 Fall and Winter Heating Tips
    • Tip #1: Routine Maintenance
    • Tip #2: Filter Maintenance
    • Tip #3: Update an Older System
    • Tip #4: Use a Programmable Thermostat
    • Tip #5: Use Your Ceiling Fans
    • Tip #6: Check Heating Vents
    • Tip #7: Schedule a Tune-Up Now

Fitch Service’s Top 7 Fall and Winter Heating Tips

Tip #1: Routine Maintenance

Early fall and early spring are the ideal times for you to have your heating system inspected. While you likely do basic maintenance tasks yourself, like changing out a furnace filter, an annual heating system inspection is important to stave off costly repairs. A certified technician can spot potential problems with your HVAC system before they become major issues and get your system ready for the cool weather by ensuring everything is in good working order.

Tip #2: Filter Maintenance

Your HVAC air filter is important to your heating and cooling system. By replacing the air filter each month, your system will not have to work as hard, which means that it will use less energy. Changing the filter regularly can also help your system to last longer. Most folks can perform this simple task in addition to cleaning the vents and ducts to remove built-up dust.

Tip #3: Update an Older System

If you have an older heating system, now may be the time to update it or even replace it. For example, a gas furnace installed before 1977 is likely to be as much as 60 percent less efficient today than a modern model. This translates to around half of the fuel expended by the furnace reaching the home in the form of heat. A modern gas furnace can achieve an efficiency rating as high as 97 percent, which may cut your use of gas in half. This is a fall and winter heating tip with major savings!

Tip #4: Use a Programmable Thermostat

While most homeowners don’t have the knowledge to install a programmable thermostat on their own, having your heating and cooling technician make this installation during your annual inspection is a good idea. A programmable thermostat allows you to turn your heat down during the day when you are at work, while you are asleep at night, and then back to a higher temperature when you need it.  It takes much less energy to warm a cool home than it does to keep the home warm all day. With proper use of your programmable thermostat, you can cut your heating costs by around twenty percent.

Tip #5: Use Your Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are not just a great idea for the summer; they can be used during the cooler months of the year to blow air upward. By reversing the direction of the fan, the blades move the air upward, which is particularly useful in rooms with high or vaulted ceilings, where heat rises naturally and then is forced back down into the room.

Tip #6: Check Heating Vents

Ensure that all of the heating vents in the home are opened and that they are not blocked by furniture or other items. This allows for an even distribution of air throughout the home. However, if you have rooms that are not being used, such as a guest bedroom, you can invariably close the vents to those areas in order to cut down on energy costs.

Tip #7: Schedule a Tune-Up Now

We hope you will take these fall and winter heating tips to heart to avoid or minimize the additional energy costs of auxiliary heating and the inconvenience of issues arising during the coldest time of the year by making sure in the early fall that all moving parts are in working order, air filters are changed, and your heat source does not require any repairs.

Charlottesville area residents can call Fitch Services at (434) 296-9980 for emergencies or use our contact form to request a heating system tune-up before winter begins.

Schedule HVAC Service

Call Now for Emergency Repair

Posted in: Heating, HVAC, saving energy

Primary Sidebar

Contact Us Today!

Chris Fitch, President
[email protected]

Fitch Services,
1325 East High Street Charlottesville, VA 22902
Fax: (434) 293-8929
Phone: (434) 296-9980

Licensed, Class A
Mechanical Contractor

Visa, Mastercard, Discover

Connect with Us!

Connect with us on the following social networks:

Charlottesville Family Favorite 2020

Nextdoor Neighbor Favorite - 2019 Winner - Fitch Services, Charlottesville VA Best of Home Advisor - 2018 Winner

Angie's List

Angie's List Members
Receive 5% Off!

Footer

Contact Us Today!

Chris Fitch, President
[email protected]

Fitch Services
1325 East High Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Fax: (434) 293-8929
Phone: (434) 296-9980

Licensed, Class A Mechanical Contractor

From Our Blog

  • What to Do if Your A/C Stops Working in the Virginia Heat
  • Small Habits, Big Impact: 10 Daily Changes to Cut Charlottesville Water Waste
  • SEER Ratings Explained: What They Mean for Your Energy Bill in Summer

Links

  • Home
  • HVAC
  • Electricical
  • Plumbing
  • About Us
  • Job Openings
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy

Connect with Us

© 2016-2025 Fitch Services • Web Designer Charlottesville SEO Web Development, LLC