Shawn Bradley 
Is your home chillier than you like? This is the time of year when people rely heavily on their HVAC units or other heating equipment. But if you’re uncomfortable unless you have a sweater or jacket on indoors, you don’t have to settle for the status quo.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to ensure your home is comfortable year-round. Continue reading to see several ways you can heat your home this winter.
Service or Replace HVAC
You can expect to get anywhere from 15 years to 25 years out of an HVAC unit. Things like the brand, the maintenance and repair history, and the rate of use will factor into how long your unit lasts. If it’s not doing a great job at heating up your home, you might want to consider getting it serviced. Have you been faithful with maintenance and tune-ups? If not, you’ll want to book an appointment. But if the HVAC unit is simply at the end of its lifecycle, your best bet is to get a new HVAC unit. It’ll make a huge difference, and your home won’t feel like an igloo.
Wood Stove
Another option is to install a wood stove in your home. It can be a practical option. If you live on a property with plenty of trees, you might not even have to buy wood. You’ll benefit from a potentially free fuel source and keep your property nice and warm during the cold winter months.
Heater
Yet another option is to get a heater — but not one of those cheap, small plug-in units you might already be familiar with. Modern heaters are versatile. You can get a unit to supplement the heating equipment you currently have, or you can install a heater to serve as your primary heating source. Getting the right heater means considering the layout and size of your home. One of the worst things you can do is buy a vent-free heater when you really need an HVAC unit. So, do your homework before making a buying decision.
It’s also best to choose a top brand when looking for a heater. And consider the various types of heaters available. You can get wall heaters, infrared heaters, space heaters, gas heaters, electric heaters, portable heaters, radiant heaters, and wood heaters. Figure out which makes the most sense for your home.
Pellet Stove
A pellet stove is another great option. Unless a pellet stove can be vented in your home, you might be better served if you view a pellet stove as a backup heating unit. You can get pellet stoves covering 2,000 square feet to 3,000 square feet. But all that heating capacity won’t do you much good if the pellet stove isn’t vented into your ductwork.
Even though pellet stoves have blowers, the heat won’t magically radiate to every square inch of your home. An exception to that is if you have an open-concept home with no walls to get in the way. In such a scenario, a high-capacity pellet stove could provide all the heat you need.
Having a pellet stove can make a big difference. Buying pellets to fuel a pellet stove can also be cost-effective compared to having to depend on natural gas or propane. It’s an option worth considering.
If you’re looking for ways to make your home more comfortable during the winter season, the above options will get you in the right direction. You don’t want to have unreliable or inadequate heating sources if you live in an area that gets cold during the wintertime. Ensure you do your homework to get the right heating equipment for your home. The time and effort you put into finding what’s right for your home will be well worth it.
