Winter is here, and even in sunny Murrieta, your heating system has to work harder than you might expect. Chilly mornings and cold nights mean your home needs reliable warmth. But even the best equipment can struggle if a few everyday habits get in the way.
Many homeowners don’t realize that simple mistakes—like using the wrong thermostat setting or skipping routine maintenance—can put extra strain on their furnace or heat pump. This stress works the system harder than necessary and wears it out faster. The result? A system that struggles to produce and deliver heat, resulting in weak heating and higher energy bills.
In this blog, we’ll highlight the most common winter heating mistakes Murrieta homeowners make—and share pro tips to help your home stay warm and efficient all season long.
1. Small Settings That Make a Big Difference
Even on the cooler mornings and evenings we get in Murrieta, your
furnace or
heat pump works best when it’s properly adjusted. Small missteps—like the wrong settings for fan mode, vent position, and thermostat features—can accidentally make your heating system run harder than it needs to. Correcting these simple issues is one of the quickest ways to boost comfort without raising energy use.
Here are the most common setting mistakes homeowners make:
Using “On” Instead of “Auto”
On your thermostat, there’s a
fan setting that controls the HVAC blower fan—the internal fan inside your furnace or air handler that pushes air through your ducts. When the thermostat’s fan setting is switched to
On, it tells the blower to run
continuously, even when the heating system isn’t producing warm air. This often leads to cool air coming through your vents and unnecessary energy use. In
Auto mode, the blower runs only when the heating system is actively heating the air, keeping your home more comfortable and reducing wasted energy.
Pro tip: Set the thermostat’s fan mode to
Auto so the blower runs only when the system is actively heating the air, improving both comfort and efficiency.
Using an Outdated Thermostat
Older mercury thermostats can become less accurate over time, and most only let you choose one fixed temperature. Modern programmable and
smart thermostats offer far better control over comfort and energy use. Some even include features like
geofencing, which uses your phone’s location to tell when you’re leaving or returning home—so the heat turns down when the house is empty and warms up again before you walk through the door.
With a programmable or smart thermostat, you can reduce wasted energy by:
- Scheduling temperature changes while you’re away or asleep
- Managing comfort around Murrieta’s midday warm-ups and evening cooldowns
- Automatically adjusting based on your routine (with smart models)
A newer thermostat helps your heating system run at the correct times and avoid unnecessary cycles, which keeps temperatures steadier and reduces overall energy use.
Pro tip: Look for thermostat models with smart features like geofencing, learning modes, or energy reports. Using these tools can help fine-tune your comfort and show you when your heater is working harder than it should.
Not Using Ceiling Fans in the Winter
Warm air naturally rises. When ceiling fans are set to rotate
clockwise at a low speed, they gently push that trapped warm air back down into the living space. This doesn’t create new heat—it simply helps distribute the warmth more evenly.
Installing ceiling fans in frequently used rooms can also help balance temperatures throughout your home. Smart fan models can take this a step further by adjusting automatically when a room is occupied.
Pro tip: Set your ceiling fans to clockwise at a low speed to recirculate warm air and reduce how often your heater needs to run.
Closing Air Vents
Many homeowners believe closing vents in unused rooms will redirect heat where it’s needed. Unfortunately, this creates pressure
imbalances in the ductwork that strain your system and reduce efficiency.
Pro tip: Keep all vents open and make sure furniture, rugs, and curtains aren’t blocking airflow.
2. How Your Home Loses—or Misses Out on—Heat
Even when your furnace or heat pump is operating well, your home may struggle to stay warm if heat escapes faster than the equipment can replace it. During chilly Murrieta nights, warm air slips through small gaps, and rooms that could benefit from sunlight often stay cooler than they need to be.
These conditions don’t break your equipment—but they do make it run longer and harder to maintain the temperature.
Here are the most common ways homes lose (or fail to collect) heat:
Not Sealing Up Air Leaks
Gaps around doors, windows, outlets, and switches allow warm air to escape. This forces your heating system to run longer to maintain comfortable temperatures.
To identify leaks, hold a lit incense stick or candle near door frames, windows, and outlets. If the smoke wavers, there’s probably a draft.
Seal these leaks by:
- Applying caulking around window and door frames
- Adding weatherstripping to exterior doors
- Installing foam gasket inserts behind outlet and switch plates
These simple upgrades go a long way in helping your home retain more heat and reducing energy waste.
Pro tip: An
attic insulation inspection can help you pinpoint cold spots; our expert HVAC technicians can give you personalized solutions to help your home retain warmth.
Blocking Out Sunlight
Natural sunlight can raise a room’s temperature by several degrees—especially in south-facing spaces. Keeping blinds and curtains closed during winter means missing out on free heat.
Pro tip: Open curtains and blinds during the day to let sunlight warm your home naturally and ease the load on your heating system.
3. When Skipped Maintenance Adds Up
Because Temecula Valley winters are mild, it’s easy to overlook the stress your furnace or heat pump faces once temperatures drop. Dust buildup, worn parts, and skipped tune-ups may not cause immediate problems, but they lead to poor airflow, uneven heating, higher bills, and mid-season breakdowns.
A little routine care goes a long way toward keeping your equipment reliable.
Here are the maintenance mistakes that cause the most trouble:
Neglecting Filter Changes
A
clogged air filter restricts airflow, reduces heating performance, and forces your system to work overtime. It also limits your home’s indoor air quality.
Pro tip: Check your furnace filter monthly. Most filter types need to be cleaned or replaced every 1-3 months. If you have pets, allergies, or a full household, your filter may need to be replaced more often. Build filter checks into your routine and keep spare air filters on hand.
Skipping Annual Heating Maintenance
Annual maintenance keeps your heating system running safely and efficiently. During a tune-up, a professional technician will:
- Inspect and clean internal components
- Catch minor issues before they become major repairs
Most manufacturers also require yearly maintenance to keep your warranty valid. Skipping it could leave you paying out of pocket for future repairs.
Pro tip: Schedule
yearly heating maintenance to protect your system, improve efficiency, and avoid unexpected repairs.
Keep Your Home Cozy Without Wasting Energy
Staying comfy doesn’t have to mean higher energy bills. At
We Care Plumbing, Heating, and Air, our expert technicians have been helping
Temecula-area homes stay warm and efficient since 2000. From heating repairs and seasonal tune-ups to thermostat upgrades and system inspections, we’re here to help with all of your heating needs.
Make sure your home is ready to handle the cold—
contact us or schedule online to book your next heatin
