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Winter is inevitably near in the Brockville, Kingston and Cornwall areas and with it always comes frigid temperatures that may leave us bundling up with additional layers. Furnace service and added layers are normally reliable ways to keep warm on cold days, but there are a host of other suggestions available out there that you could be trying that are simply making you colder, not warmer.

Common Myths:

• Hot drinks will make you warmer: while the primary sensation of a hot drink can help you belive that you’re warm, your brain may sense that it needs to start cooling off your body, triggering cooling mechanisms.
• Alcoholic drinks will warm you up: the reason we usually feel warm after a few drinks, it’s merely your skin warming. Alcohol can actually decrease your core temperature, making you colder. A well-functioning furnace, thanks to having annual furnace service done, is a more sound bet.
• Hot showers heat you up: as it is with hot drinks, the heat of your shower is simply a momentary feeling that fades when the water is dried up and toweled off. That’s why you never want to open the shower curtain.
• Wearing only a hat will handle your warming needs: while there are a variety of sources that state that a great deal of body heat is lost through your head, it’s important to remember that any part of bare skin contributes to heat loss. Therefore, while it seems obvious, if you’re only using a hat and not a coat or gloves, it’s more likely that lose body heat faster.

So now that you have learned about a couple myths surrounding staying warm this winter, it’s not difficult to realize the importance of something as easy as furnace service. Of course there are other things you can do to stay warm this winter besides furnace service, but there may not be a lot that have such a great effect on your daily comfort. Give Toshack Service a call at 1-888-547-6162.

Now that chilly weather is here to stay in Brockville, most homeowners will start really thinking about switching on the furnace for the upcoming months. With that flip of the switch comes new thoughtfulness both for your comfort and for your wallet.
Energy efficiency universally affects everyone who uses a furnace or air conditioner and also has an effect on the ecosystem depending on the efficiency of the system. So when you’re watching for little ways to make a large impact on the energy efficiency of your furnace this time of year, consider these tips:

Easy Fixes

• Filters: arguably the most forgotten simple fix to help better the energy efficiency of your furnace, changing filters as recommended not only helps the air flow more freely, but it may also help you keep your indoor air quality in check.
• Thermostat settings: dialing your thermostat a few degrees cooler than typical is a very simple way to save a few dollars. Comfort is still key, but you may be surprised what a handful of degrees cooler can do for your energy expenses.
• Programmable thermostat: don’t feel like constantly adjusting your thermostat before you leave for the day or when you know you won’t be around for an extended period? Programmable thermostats can provide you with savings by keeping your home cooler when you’re away or when you’re sleeping and the temperature isn’t as critical.
• Weatherstripping: whether it’s around your doors or windows, weatherstripping can help keep warm air from leaking out after you’ve already paid for it. Take a couple minutes to walk around your home and look at your windows and doors and figure out if they need to be re-caulked or need new weatherstripping.

Comfort is something we’re always looking for no matter whether it’s furnace season or air conditioning season. These handful of tips are a perfect place to start so you can transition to the new season while still working to boost the efficiency of your furnace and possibly save money. If you’d like to know any more about these tips or are searching for a new furnace, give the team at Toshack Service a call at 1-888-547-6162.

You’re in the middle of the most bitter week of winter and you wake up trembling in a pile of blankets in bed. The first thing you think is, “Why in the world has my furnace not kicked on?” Of course, you don’t want to find yourself in a situation like this where it feels like you’re destined to suffer until morning to set up furnace repair, but there are a couple things you can take a look at, as well as a couple things you can do, to stay on your toes and have a plan for a predicament like this.

Before You Experience Problems:

• Furnace service. Frigid nights and furnace repair can’t always be avoided, but having annual furnace service completed can help you avoid a chilly situation.
• Compile supplies. Set aside some room in a closet, drawer or another handy area for blankets, a space heater, gloves, hats and any number of other accessories to keep you toasty while your furnace isn’t working. It could seem inconvenient or unnecessary now, but it will be nice when you need it most.

After You Suspect Your Furnace Quit Operating:

• Check the circuit breaker. There’s a chance that the breaker to your furnace may have been tripped by a power surge or for a different reason. If this is the case, switch the breaker back on and you could be set. If the breaker is flipped and you have turned it back on but your furnace still isn’t running, give us a call to set up an appointment for furnace repair.
• Add layers and get cozy. That list of supplies we recommended above will come in handy here. Layers can help you retain body heat so you can stay cozy while waiting for your pro. Also, try to find an activity to do to keep your blood pumping, as more activity can help keep you cozy.
• Stay safe. Employing something other than your furnace to heat your home can pose some danger depending on the method you’re choosing. It’s important to remember to never choose heating methods developed for outdoor use – i.e. kerosene heaters, grills, or any other carbon monoxide producing methods. If you need to use a secondary method, electric space heaters, fireplaces or wood stoves are your go-tos.

No one wants to deal with furnace repair in the middle of winter after their furnace has stopped working, but the opportunity is real if you don’t take the right steps. Give the team at Toshack Service a call at 1-888-547-6162 if you have any questions about these tips, the furnace repair services provided or any other number of heating questions.