The weather has somehow lightened up in Salt Lake City, and the more favorable conditions compelled you to check and discover that your furnace suffered damage over the long period of time that it was on. You know the signs of a failing furnace and have seen them all in yours. In an effort to try to save it, you go out and look for a reliable heating contractor.

Like all other service-oriented industries, heating contractors are plenty in a cold city like Salt Lake, where wintertime lows can hit the 20’s. As a consumer, you want to find the service that makes the most out of your money, and it’s understandable. In order to find the right contractor for you, there are some things that you must take note of.

First of all, look up on all the details that concerns your furnace such as researching the licensing and insurance requirements for contractors in Utah and knowing your current furnace model down to the last detail. It will help you sift through the services available a lot easier. Secondly, ask for referrals. A service recommended by the people you know and trust can only mean that the service is likely to deliver on its promises.

A good heating contractor will make a full inspection of your heating system and should give you a written, itemized estimate of the expenses. Taking the above considerations to mind should help you find the right contractor to solve your heating needs.

Are you going away on a winter holiday with your family? Know that when it comes to your home, out of sight shouldn’t mean out of mind. Achieve lower heating costs for your home while you’re away with these simple energy efficiency optimizing tips:

Rooms and windows

Close interior doors completely, and close heating vents in all the rooms partially to cut airflow volume and minimize the heating load on your system while there’s no one in the house. Close all the drapes and curtains to minimize heat loss through windows.

Garage

Turn off the heat going to your garage. If your garage and house are attached, secure the garage door shut to prevent cold winter drafts from entering your home through it. If you don’t, it may compromise the heating efficiency of your home.

Electronics

Even when they’re turned off, electrical devices big and small consume a small amount of electricity as long as they’re plugged. Unplug all your electronics and appliances before you travel. It will also be wise to turn down your water heater to the lowest setting.

Lighting

Install timers for your lights and set them so that they turn on at night. Lights at night while you’re away can be an effective deterrent against unwanted intruders.

For best results, have your home inspected by a qualified HVAC contractor before you go.

Heaters, whether they’re furnaces, boilers, or parts of full HVAC systems, are indispensable appliances for the winter. Enduring the season’s cold will be next to impossible without these devices providing comforting warmth, so it’s not unusual to see many homes fitted with heaters. Yet like many machinery, heaters can come across mechanical problems that could threaten their operability if left unresolved. Households with inoperable heaters should have them fixed immediately before the winter season comes in full force.

Homeowners unfamiliar with the inner workings of a heater shouldn’t attempt to tinker with the device to “repair” it. Instead, they should call upon a skilled and licensed contractor to perform the fixing. Having an expert do the job will prevent further damage to the device, as well as accurately pinpoint the source of the malfunction.

Some householders might find it difficult to choose from the many heating contractors in business. The easiest way to choose a reliable and experienced contractor would be to verify the business information of a handful of local service companies nearby. The Internet is a great resource tool that consumers can use to determine the worth of a potential contractor. Remember that you should only entrust the repair of your heater to a contractor that consistently delivers results.

If you're reading this, it probably means that your furnace is in need of replacing or you are in the middle of having a new house constructed. If so, here are a few tips to remember when purchasing a new furnace:

First off, if you can afford the price difference, buy an energy-efficient furnace. If a furnace's efficiency rating reaches a certain level, you could be eligible for tax breaks. Depending on the efficiency level, there can be as much as a $300 difference between a high-efficiency furnace and a mid-efficiency furnace, which translates to $6,000 dollars over a furnace's 20 year average life span.

If you can, try your best to purchase a sealed combustion model. One of the byproducts of an old and malfunctioning furnace is a yellow flame; this is a sign that your furnace is producing too much carbon monoxide, which is poisonous when inhaled in large amounts. A sealed combustion means that the burner is sealed, separating it from the air flowing through your house and protecting you and your family from any air contaminants the furnace may produce in the future.

Lastly, if you have the time to spare, try waiting until March or April to buy a new furnace. Seeing as those months herald the coming of spring, most people that need a replacement have already replaced their furnaces. This may prompt sellers to sell furnaces at a discounted price.