What is it about December that has your furnace working overtime when October was no trouble at all? Or how much energy does it consume to put some warmth in an Alaska home once the mercury goes sub-zero? And what distinguishes heating in South Central Alaska from the rest of the country?
You are not alone in asking such questions. The answers tend to be of more interest than one would think. We at Hardy Heating Inc have made it our business to warm up homes and commercial properties since 1994, and we are happy to put our experience to use. Should you feel like having a conversation about your own system, pick up the phone at (907) 917-4286. For now, we offer up a few entertaining facts on the subject of an Alaska winter.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
A heating system is put to the test in these parts. In a place with a gentler climate the home only has to contend with a modest temperature variance; in Alaska you may be looking at a 60, 70 or 80 degree chasm between the interior and what is frozen outside.
Your furnace will run of consequence to close that gap, and in the Valley especially, it is hard pressed to hold its ground.
Dry Air Is Cold Air
Most do not make the connection, but as the air cools its capacity for moisture diminishes. Hence the dryness of an Alaska winter and the accompanying static, cracked woodwork and skin. Put some heat in that cold air and the relative humidity plummets further, which is why many a home here is better off with some supplemental moisture. To be comfortable is not simply a matter of the temperature.
Furnaces Have Their Work Cut Out for Them
Modern equipment is designed for the workload, yet it is worth knowing what your system is up to in an Alaska winter. While you are going about yours it is unobtrusively:
- making numerous cycles an hour to maintain a set temperature
- putting warm air in every room despite the cold outside
- dealing with any drafts from the doors and windows
- ensuring pipes and living areas do not freeze
- seeing out the dark, frigid months with little sun
Then again, a system left to its own devices is prone to quit in the dead of winter, so there is a good reason fall is the season for a tune-up.
As They Say, Heat Rises
It is true. Being less dense, warm air will float up, leaving the basement cooler and cold air to collect on the floor. A ceiling fan can be put to work driving it back down if set properly, and by shutting off rooms you are not using you put the heat where it belongs.
We Know How It Is Done Here
There is no comparison between heating a house in Palmer, Wasilla, Anchorage or Willow and most of the country. With the kind of cold and long dark winters and the way the temperatures can swing, you need local expertise. We have been providing that in South Central Alaska for 30 years, from Knik-Fairview to Fishhook to Sutton-Alpine.
Some Parting Thoughts
While the snow is piling up, consider these:
- An even temperature and lower energy use are the mark of a well looked after system
- Plug a small air leak and you will see it in the cost and comfort
- Where you put your thermostat has an effect on the furnace
- Change the filters and let the system do its job
In Need of Some Heat?
We have an A+ with the Better Business Bureau to show for it, and financing is available from Hardy Heating Inc to ease the expense. Our office is open 8 to 5 Monday to Friday to serve the businesses and homes of South Central Alaska.
We like to think we are the best at delivering heat from the Valley. Call (907) 917-4286 to arrange service or if you have any queries, we will be glad to put you in a position to get through the winter in comfort.
