As the vibrant hues of autumn begin to paint the landscape, we at Main Street Property Management couldn't be more excited to welcome the cooler weather into our beautiful Pensacola community. While we're known for our sunny beaches and warm summers, there's a unique charm that cool weather brings to the Gulf Coast. With the arrival of this refreshing change, we want to ensure that your living experience with us remains as cozy and comfortable as ever. So, grab your favorite sweaters and prepare for the crisp, invigorating days ahead as we embark on a season filled with warmth, both in our hearts and homes.
Check Your Heating System Before Winter Hits!
Clear out and clean up the area around your furnace
The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure there is no clutter or debris around your furnace before you ascertain whether it’s working properly or not. Throughout the year, stuff can pile up around your furnace. Now is the time to clear away all fire hazards.
Check your furnace air filters
When the warmer weather began earlier this year, you happily shut off your furnace and forgot about it. Over the course of last year’s colder weather, your furnace filters did some quality work. But, if they haven’t been changed for some time, you should check them out. Before checking the filter, be sure to turn off the circuit breaker at the main electrical panel supplying power to the furnace. Safety first! Once you’ve done that, you can inspect the furnace filter. Check both sides and replace if it’s dirty. If you fail to do this, you’ll limit the airflow and end up using more energy than necessary to heat your home. Purchasing extra furnace filters in the off season will save you that added worry.
Test the furnace and thermostat
Once you’ve checked and replaced the filter (if necessary), you can restore the power to the furnace. You can now test to see if it’s working properly. Turn the furnace on and check your thermostat while it’s running. Make sure the thermostat shows that your home’s heating up. If nothing is happening within 15 to 20 minutes, you should contact your property manager to inspect and repair your system. If it feels warmer, you shouldn’t have any issues. Don’t be alarmed if you smell something a bit off the first time you turn on your heating system. This is often the result of burning dust, which has accumulated over the warmer weather period. If it bothers you, open up your windows and let your home air out. But, if the smell reminds you of gas or oil, you should be safe and call your property manager and report the issue.
If you have natural gas, make sure gas is on!
City of Pensacola
Pensacola Energy
City of Milton
Natural Gas of Milton
City of Gulf Breeze
Gulf Breeze Natural Gas
Cost-effective ways to stay warm in winter
Draft excluders
Got a drafty house? That breeze will be cooling you down more than you think! Covering the bottoms of doorways with anything from spare blankets to ‘sausage dog’ excluders can make the room warmer and let you turn that heating down without feeling a difference! If you really want to push the boat out, cover up letterboxes, key-holes and cat-flaps too.
Blankets, blankets, blankets!
Blankets can instantly transform a room from cold to cozy and come in all sizes and thicknesses. Dot them around your place to warm you up when you’re watching TV or to go over your duvet at night. Try to pick one in a soft fabric which can go in the washing machine.
Don’t crowd your radiators
If you’ve got a sofa right in front of a radiator or wall mounted electric panel heater then it probably means that the room isn’t getting any heat. Keeping furniture away from the radiator means heat reaches further and also decreases the fire risk!
Leave the oven door open
If you and your housemates spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you may as well use the heat from the oven to warm you up while you eat! Once you’ve finished cooking, just leave the door open and let the heat circulate!
Thick curtains
Windows can make or break the temperature of a room, especially if you don’t have double-glazed windows. Closing your curtains once it gets dark with thick curtains (or draped blankets) keeps heat in the room far more effectively. They’re also great if you live on a busy street for keeping out sound and light.
Use rugs to keep the floor warm
Rugs will keep your feet warm and stop heat from escaping, plus it’s a great opportunity to give your house more character. If you want to take this to the next level, you can purchase a heating mat to put under your rug but they can be quite costly!
Thermals
Layer up! Invest in some good under layers either for the day or during the night. These really work wonders for keeping your body heat in!
Time your temperature
Keeping your heating on constantly on a low heat could potentially save you more money than switching it on and off for big blasts of heat. So if you’ve got a thermostat timer or one built in already make sure to use it. Handy gadgets and modern appliances can also have temperature timings, like smart electric radiators.
Vent covers
Buy magnetic vent covers from home improvement stores. Used to cover vents, they can be inexpensive and help to force heat to exit vents in the occupied rooms only.
Set your ceiling fan
In cooler months, your ceiling fan should be spinning clockwise at a low speed. Warm air naturally rises, and the gentle updraft created by this setting allows for the redistribution of warm air that tends to accumulate near the ceiling.
As we embrace the cooler days and cozier nights, Main Street Property Management is committed to ensuring that your home remains a sanctuary where you can create lasting memories and enjoy the seasonal wonders Pensacola has to offer. Our dedicated team is here to assist you in any way we can, and we're just a phone call or email away if you have any questions or requests. Together, we'll make this fall season a delightful chapter in your Main Street journey. So, grab a pumpkin spice latte, relish the changing leaves, and let's make this season truly memorable. Thank you for being a part of the Main Street community.
Warmly, Main Street Property Management