How to Monitor Your Central Heat System During Winter

Central heat and air systems are often less likely to show obvious problems during the winter—or sometimes the average homeowner simply doesn’t recognize that an issue is present. Two simple things a homeowner can do to monitor their central heating system are checking the temperature difference of the air and comparing the power bill from month to month.

In this blog, we’ll look at what these two processes can tell a homeowner and how they help prevent costly repairs or high energy bills.

Note: This article is most useful for homeowners with a heat pump and heat strips. If you’re not sure what type of system you have, contact us or your local HVAC specialist for more information.

Check the Temperature Difference in Your Central Heat System

One thing any homeowner can do to help determine if there is a problem with their central heat system is to measure the difference in temperature between the air going into the system and the air coming out.

To do this, use a contact thermometer (something like meat thermometer). Record:

The temperature of the air entering the return (the grate where air is pulled into the system)

The temperature of the air coming out of the supply vents

The temperature difference should generally fall between 15 and 20 degrees. This indicates that the system is pulling in room-temperature air and delivering warmer air back into the space, raising the indoor temperature effectively.

If the temperature difference is below 15 degrees or above 20 degrees, this can be a sign of a problem. Possible issues include:

An improperly charged system

Heat strips not functioning correctly

Other, less common system issues

Monitoring temperature difference is a good way for a homeowner to check whether a heat system is operating properly, but this process should always be paired with monitoring power usage.

Compare Your Power Bill Month to Month

The second way to monitor the effectiveness of a central heat system is by comparing the power bill from month to month. In many cases, a system may continue to heat the home adequately, and the homeowner doesn’t notice a problem right away.

However, a sharp increase in the power bill can indicate that the heat pump is failing and the heat strips are doing most—or all—of the heating. Heat strips use significantly more electricity, which can cause power costs to rise quickly. In many cases, this issue can be resolved by servicing the heat pump.

Another problem that monitoring power bills can reveal is heat strips that are not shutting off properly. Sometimes, a heat kit can burn through the internal “light switch” mechanism that controls when the strips turn on and off. When this happens, electricity can continuously flow to the heat kit, causing it to run whenever the thermostat calls for power—leading to unnecessary energy use and higher bills.

Why Monitoring Your Central Heat System Matters

Monitoring your central heat system can help prevent being stuck without heat during cold weather and can also protect you from excessively high power bills throughout the winter. By checking the temperature difference of the air and comparing your power bill from month to month, you are actively monitoring the performance of your central heating system and catching potential problems early.

Not sure if your heating system is working the way it should?

If your temperature readings seem off or your power bill is higher than normal, our team is here to help. Click the “Let’s Chat” button on our website to speak with a technician, ask questions, or schedule a professional inspection before small issues turn into expensive repairs.