Ottawa’s weather is notorious for its drastic temperature fluctuations. Just when you think summer is over, Mother Nature hits you with a 19°C sunny day.
The same applies to winter – just when you think the worst of it is over a full day of snowfall arrives.
These unpredictable events make it difficult to know when to turn on your furnace in Ottawa. We understand that
The Best Time to Turn On Your Furnace in Ottawa
Most people reach for their furnaces when temperatures outdoors drop below a certain standard – usually between the ranges of 10-15 degrees. It should be noted, however, that the furnace’s status should be changed based on indoor temperature, not outdoor.
The consensus among experts is that, for most people, the optimal temperature is around 18-20°C. 20°C is the ideal temperature for most homes because it maintains a balance between hot and cold. You won’t need a jacket nor will you need to remove your top entirely to be comfortable.
Keep an eye on your indoor temperature as we ease into the colder months. It’s time to turn on the furnace in Ottawa when you see a sharp drop in indoor temperature (below 18°C).
For elderly people or families with young children, we advise that you turn on the furnace when temperatures drop below 20-21°C. Contact an HVAC technician to come to assist you if you are elderly and struggle to operate your furnace.
Understanding Thermostat Settings
Turning your furnace on, setting a temperature, and forgetting about it until spring is a sure way to waste a ton of energy and money.
If you happen to have a programmable thermostat, make sure to set it to a normal temperature during the day and to a lower temperature (or turn it off completely) at night or when you typically are away from home. Using these settings will save money, save energy, and preserve the lifespan of your furnace.
Make sure to set reminders on your phone to turn the temperature higher, lower, or off if you do not own a programmable thermostat. It can be a tedious process over the whole winter, but it will help with saving money.
How to Prepare Your Furnace for Winter in Ottawa
Make sure to test your thermostat before the colder months arrive. This can be easily done by setting your thermostat to “auto”/”automatic” and increasing the temperature. Shortly after this process, the furnace should kick in and you’ll hear the fan. Enlist the help of Ottawa HVAC services if you don’t hear anything and you suspect your furnace is broken.
It’s important to change your furnace’s filter before the season begins. Changing the filter ensures that it’ll be as clean as possible and won’t succumb to any problems. Make sure to change the filter every 2.5-3 months to maximize efficiency.
The most important thing to do is to get a top-to-bottom furnace tune-up from an Ottawa HVAC technician. This comprehensive service will check your furnace for operational ability, safety hazards, or other issues. Furnace tune-ups will also optimize your furnace’s efficiency which helps lower energy bills.
Ottawa’s Trusted HVAC Solutions Providers
We hope that this guide will help you prepare your furnace for Ottawa’s harsh winters. While it’s important to inspect your furnace yourself, remember to hire an HVAC technician to give your furnace a tune-up. A furnace tune-up will save you time, money, and energy.
Contact Advanced HVAC for all your HVAC service needs in Ottawa! We have decades of combined experience installing heating systems and we’d love to help you prepare your home for the upcoming winter season.
