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Even during a mild winter, you’ll notice a significant spike in your energy bills. That’s when your HVAC system is working its hardest to keep you and your family warm. But, you don’t necessarily have to pay nearly as much as you do now.
10 Ways To Lower Your Heating Bill
Here are ten ways to lower your heating bill:
- Reverse (And Slow Down) Your Ceiling Fans
- Put Blankets On Your Couches
- Use Your Curtains Effectively
- Add Permanent Or Temporary Window Insulation
- Clear (And Open) Your Vents
- Insulate Your Water Pipes
- Get Your Roof Checked Out
- Use A Smart Thermostat
- Replace The Air Filter In Your Furnace
- Get Your Heater Tuned Up
The first batch has to do with making the most of the heat your HVAC system is supplying. That means keeping the house as warm as possible otherwise, making sure you don’t feel chilly, and preventing drafts. This way, you won’t rely on your furnace as much.
Then, we’ll get into a few ways you can make sure your heater uses less energy without you necessarily turning the thermostat down.
Meanwhile, if you have any questions about the best ways to keep your Dover, PA home warm all winter without breaking the bank, call or email us here at Air Comfort Technologies.
Reverse (And Slow Down) Your Ceiling Fans
In the summer, running your ceiling fan clockwise and fast draws heat toward the ceiling and away from you. It also helps circulate the cool air coming in from your air conditioner. To get the reverse effect in the winter, set the ceiling fan to counter-clockwise and run it on a low setting.
This way, the heat in the room gets pushed down from the ceiling. This strategy works best if you have high ceilings and long fan blades.
Put Blankets On Your Couches
Putting blankets on your couches prevents you from losing heat when you’re sitting still. If you’re sitting down and reading, watching TV, or scrolling on your phone, you’re more likely to get chilly and turn up the thermostat than when you’re moving around.
You don’t even need to get under the blanket! Just laying them down adds plenty of insulation.
Use Your Curtains Effectively
Curtains can help warm your home on winter days and prevent heat from escaping at night. To do this, simply open the curtains during the day, so the sunlight comes in. Then, close the curtains at night to prevent heat from escaping into the cold outside.
You can take this up a notch by investing in thermal curtains. They look like decorative curtains but do a better job of trapping the heat inside at night.
Add Permanent Or Temporary Window Insulation
Recaulk or seal up breaks, holes, or gaps in your windows. You can do this yourself if you’re handy, or call a professional. Sealing up your exterior days helps keep the heat from escaping as well.
If you’re on a budget, invest in some cloth draft guards. They’re small, tubular accessories that block drafts when you place them at the bottom of the window. They don’t cost much, and you can find designs that match each room.
Insulate Your Water Heater
Remember, your furnace also warms up your water heater! And, if the basement is chilly, that appliance loses some of the heat it gets from your HVAC system. When that happens, it has to run more often to maintain the temperature you want.
Avoid this problem by adding insulation around the tank. This way, it stays warmer longer.
Why Is My Heater Blowing Cold Air?
Get Your Roof Checked Out
We all know that hot air rises. If your roof is old and drafty, then the warmth in your home will keep going up until it escapes the house altogether. Then, you’re paying for more energy to make up for the lost heat. So, it’s worth getting the roof checked out if it’s more than ten years old. You may have holes or other problems that will let the heat escape.
Use A Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats help you save money in two major ways. First, they take more accurate temperature readings from different parts of the house. This way, you know you’re making the most of your heating. Next, you can get alerts letting you know if and when there’s a spike in usage. That lets you address problems right away rather than waiting weeks for your utility bill to arrive.
Why And How To Winterize Your Air Conditioner
Replace The Air Filter In Your Furnace
You should replace your air filter every month. If you haven’t, then your old one may be clogged up. When that happens, your HVAC system works extra hard to push air through the screen. The more effort it requires, the more energy it uses.
Preventative maintenance can save you some money each month. And, it can head off a major repair and the headache that comes with a broken-down furnace. With a tune-up, an HVAC tech cleans and optimizes your system for the long winter ahead. This prevents breakdowns and makes sure the system can work using as little energy as possible.
Why Do I Need a Heater Tune-Up?
Will Replacing My Furnace Lower My Heating Bill?
Your furnace will be less efficient each year you use it. Even after the first two seasons, it will require more energy than it did when it started. So, getting a new one will lower your heating bill. However, it takes years before such a large investment is worth the cost.
We’re enjoying this point outside of the official list because it’s not exactly an “easy” way to lower your bills. After all, we’re talking about spending thousands of dollars. But it’s still worth mentioning.
For instance, you may notice your bills going up more and more each year. If your furnace is getting older, it’s worth having a professional look it over. That’s especially true if you don’t get it tuned up annually.
Even if it’s not on its last legs, you may want to start thinking about its replacement. If you begin your research before there’s an emergency breakdown, you’ll have the time to look into the newest and most high-efficiency models out there.
Four Signs Your Heater May Be Broken
HVAC Repair Near Dover, PA
If you’ve tried everything here but still see your energy bills rising, the problem may be with your furnace. In that case, you can call Air Comfort Technologies for HVAC repair, maintenance, or any other questions. We’re happy to help you out, and we’d rather help you head off any big problems than wait for you to call with an emergency.
