Furnace

Cold weather is standard for the Chicago area.  While we have been lucky this winter, so far, we are about to see the coldest temperatures of the season soon.  While your furnace may be working fine and dandy, there are some issues that can pop up when temperatures dip low.

Top Three Tips to Keep Warm

1.    Change the Filter

Keep the air filter clear of debris is one of the most important things you can do to keep your furnace functioning properly.  Making sure it is clean during extreme temperatures is even more important, a clean filter can prevent your furnace from working harder than it needs to in order to keep your home warm when the thermometer drops.

2.    Don’t Dial Down the Thermostat

Normally, setting the thermostat on a lower temperature if you are not home, or even overnight, is recommended to conserve energy and keep your monthly bills low.  However, during excessively cold times it is not recommended. A lower temperature means your furnace will need to work harder to bring up the temperature when you are home or want a warmer indoors.  It is recommended to keep the thermostat at a consistent temperature during the cold snap.

3.    Throw on a Sweater

During extreme cold, furnaces may not be able to bring the inside temperature all the way up to the desired level.  While it may seem that cranking up the thermostat to a higher setting will help warm your home better and faster, it will not.  Throw on a sweater and have a few extra blankets around the house to cover up with and stay warm without causing your furnace to work harder than it needs.

Be Prepared

If you are concerned about your furnace making it through a cold snap schedule a tune-up now to make sure your furnace is in good shape and will be fine working a bit harder, the team at TR Miller Heating and Cooling can help.  Grab our super savings now and save $40 on a tune-up.

If you end up with any problems during the cold snap, grab our coupon for $50 off any repair over $150 and we can get your home warm and toasty.

Otherwise, stay warm and toasty next week and keep in mind that the first day of spring is LESS than 50 days away!

Author

  • brian sloan headshot

    Brian Sloan is the President of TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, one of the western Chicago suburbs' leading family owned home service companies, serving homeowners across more than 80 communities throughout Will, Kendall, DuPage, Kane, and Cook counties.

    TR Miller is more than a business to Brian, it's a family legacy. The company was founded by his father, Tim Miller, and Brian and his brother Jim have played an important role in growing the business from a small local operation into a full service residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company serving homeowners throughout the greater Chicagoland area.

    Brian's perspective on the home services industry comes from firsthand experience. Before taking on leadership responsibilities, he worked in the field as an HVAC Service Technician and Fabrication Technician, diagnosing heating and cooling systems, assembling custom HVAC components, and supporting residential installations throughout the western suburbs.

    That hands on foundation continues to influence the way Brian leads TR Miller today. He understands both the work taking place inside a customer's home and the systems, training, and support required behind the scenes to consistently deliver a great customer experience.

    Over the course of his career at TR Miller, Brian has worked across nearly every major area of the business, including operations, marketing, sales, job coordination, customer service, finance, and leadership. Today, as President, he is responsible for the overall strategy, growth, culture, and performance of the organization.

    That breadth of experience across both the technical and business sides of home services has helped shape how TR Miller operates: combining the systems and accountability of a professionally run organization with the care, responsiveness, and personal connection of a family business.
    Brian's philosophy is straightforward, make home services convenient and reliable while giving homeowners the information they need to make the best decisions for their homes and families. That means educating customers, providing clear options and upfront pricing, and making sure homeowners understand both what was found and why a repair or replacement may be recommended.

    Under Brian's leadership, TR Miller has expanded beyond HVAC into plumbing and electrical services, grown across multiple locations, invested heavily in technical and leadership development, and been recognized seven times on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest growing privately held companies.

    Credentials & Affiliations:
    - President, TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical
    - Membership Officer, YPO Chicagoland
    - Board Member, Nexstar Network
    - Former Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce
    - Associate's Degree, Waubonsee Community College
    - Former HVAC Service Technician & Fabrication Technician, TR Miller
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