Dropping temperatures signal more than just the end of the Fall and the beginning of the holiday season. For homeowners, wintertime also means increased heating costs. However, there are plenty of ways for homeowners to prepare for the winter. With a few simple tweaks and the right heating system services, your home can remain cozy and comfortable all year long. Don’t let high heating costs prevent you from enjoying the wintertime with your family. Learn how to lower your monthly utility bills with these 10 simple tips from our HVAC experts. Contact us today to schedule an HVAC appointment.
1. Adjust The Thermostat
If you don’t already own one, get a programmable thermostat and keep your home cooler when you don’t need as much heat. Set the thermostat down to 68 degrees or lower when you’re home and somewhere around 55 degrees when you’re out of the house. Setting the thermostat too low could result in frozen plumbing. Is your thermostat not working? Contact us for emergency HVAC repairs.
2. Use Sunlight To Your Advantage
Curtains and rugs can be used for more than just decorating. If you have any south-facing windows, keep the curtains open during the daytime to allow sunlight and heat inside. To prevent heated indoor air from escaping outdoors, keep windows shut and curtains closed at night. Use area rugs to insulate floors throughout the home.
3. Use Ceiling Fans
Notice an oddly-placed switch on the ceiling fan? Flipping it to the opposite setting reverses the spin motion of the fan’s blades. When programmed clockwise, the fan pulls cool air upwards while circulating warm air throughout the room. The result is a warmer environment, as well as significant savings on next month’s heating bill.
4. Repair The Furnace
A broken or malfunctioning furnace can lead to sharp increases in household energy consumption. While the process of relighting your furnace’s pilot light may be fairly straightforward, the fact that the pilot light went out might be indicative of a greater system issue. Schedule heating and furnace repairs with an experienced technician.
5. Schedule HVAC Maintenance
Regular maintenance is by far the best way to lower overall heating costs. Through regular inspection, our HVAC technicians are better able to identify and remediate issues with the system before these issues become costly or get out of hand. As a general rule of thumb, schedule HVAC maintenance services at least twice each year.
6. Cool Down The Water Heater
The HVAC system’s thermostat might not be the only thing contributing to increased heating costs. Tweaking water heater’s temperature setting could likewise lower heating costs. If possible, turn the water heater’s temperature down to 120 degrees. Don’t worry — this setting is still comfortable for daily use. Notice a problem? Contact us today for water heater services.
7. Replace Air Filters
Dirty and clogged air filters can make it difficult for your HVAC system to output warm air, resulting in higher heating costs. Even worse, dirty filters could severely impact your indoor air quality (IAQ). Stay safe and save money by replacing all of your air filters every three months — better yet, upgrade to high-performance air filters for improved indoor air quality.
8. Insulate The Attic & Basement
Because they are not usually designed as living areas, attics and basements typically lack proper insulation, allowing cold air to make its way inside the home. To maintain a warm setting inside your home, install insulating materials, such as fiberglass batting, in the attic and basement. Use area rugs to cover floors, especially above the attic door.
9. Install Humidifiers
Adding moisture to your home can improve indoor comfort, boost indoor air quality, and save you money on your next utility bill. That’s because humid air retains heat more effectively than dry air. When properly installed and controlled, portable and whole-house humidifiers can be a great addition to your home’s heating system.
10. Install Ductless Mini-Splits
Mini-split systems allow homeowners to cool and heat individual rooms separately. When properly insulated, frequently used rooms, such as the living room, can be set to a higher temperature than the rest of the home to reduce energy costs. Contact us to schedule ductless mini-split heating services.