Here Comes the Cold! Keep Warm and Protect Your Home
Winter 2025 has truly arrived on Cape Cod, with lows expected to be in the teens for the next week or more. This weather will put everyone’s heating system to the test. Here are some ways you can stay warm and protect your home from damage.
For Heat Pump Owners:
Heat pumps are designed to maintain temperatures using very little energy, but some of that efficiency can be lost when they’re called on to swing between high and low temps. This is why we recommend you set your system to a comfortable temperature and leave it there. When temperatures get very cold outside, and you drop the temperature significantly (eg when you leave for work) heat pumps have to work harder and can take much longer to get the house warmed up again.
Forced Hot Water Heating
If you have a boiler with forced hot water baseboards – even if you only use it for backup heat – we recommend you run it during very cold weather to prevent pipes from freezing.
Make sure your baseboards aren’t blocked or obstructed in any way, to ensure the heat is able to circulate into the room.
If You Have a Furnace
Check and change your air filter
A clogged air filter can reduce your furnace’s efficiency and cause it to wear out prematurely. Check your filter, and if it appears dirty or if you know it hasn’t been changed in the last 90 days or more, replace it.
Increase the temperature on the thermostat
Raise the temperature in your home 2 to 4 degrees above your normal setting as needed to chase away cold air pockets.
Set the thermostat to HOLD
During the frigid times, take all programmable thermostats out of setback mode and set on a permanent HOLD around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.