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ALL ABOUT HOUSES BY ANDY CONSOLI

HOW TO PROPERLY HEAT YOUR HOME THIS WINTER

🔥 How to Properly Heat Your Home This Winter

Originally published in Haverhill Life, January 2019
By Andrew B. Consoli

🛠️ What to Check If Your Heat Isn't Working

Before calling for help:

✅ Check the red shutoff switch — usually on a basement wall near the cellar door — make sure it’s ON.
⛽ If you have oil heat, check the tank — it might be empty.
⚡ Check the electrical breaker — even if it looks on, flip it off and back on to reset it.

If none of that works:
🧥 Throw on a sweater and call a heating professional.

🔥 Common Heating Systems

🏠 Older Homes

Often use steam heat with radiators.
Heat may come from a basement boiler or, in some Boston homes, purchased city steam piped in underground.

🆕 Newer Homes

Usually have forced hot-air furnaces or forced-hot-water boilers.

💨 Furnace Heating Systems (Forced Hot Air)

Heats air and distributes it through ductwork.
Pros:

Can double as A/C when paired with a compressor and evaporator coil.

Cons:

Can dry out air → may need a humidifier.
Requires filter changes (at least annually, more often with pets).
Duct cleaning can be costly.

💧 Boiler Heating Systems (Forced Hot Water)

Heats water that flows through radiators or baseboards.
Pros:

More comfortable heat — doesn’t dry out air.

Cons:

Can’t support central A/C.
Baseboards must be kept clear of furniture and curtains for best performance.

🧰 Annual Maintenance Tip

Whether you have an oil or gas system, have it serviced annually to keep it running safely and efficiently.

🔍 Other Heating Systems (Coming in Future Articles)

Hydro air (boiler + furnace combo)
Radiant heat
Geothermal
High-efficiency wall-mounted units
Solar heating systems

⚠️ Safety Warning: Electric Baseboard Heaters

Never let curtains, toys, or anything flammable touch them.
Electric baseboards can be fire hazards if blocked or cluttered.

📧 Got a question for Andy?
Reach out to: info@abchomeinspection.com