As we approach another winter season, many of us are planning for the upcoming holidays. One thing you may not want to think about is your rising heating bills. Fortunately, there are many different tips you can employ to help reduce your utility bills this winter season, especially as you crank up the heat for guests and use more energy overall.
1. Use Natural Sunlight
By far, one of the best tips that you can employ is to use natural sunlight to heat your home. By opening blinds and curtains during the daytime hours, natural sunlight will warm up your rooms by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit or more. Every degree that the natural sunlight heats up your home, that’s one last degree that your heating system has to worry about.
2. Ensure You Invest in Annual Maintenance Service
Another must-employ tip is to invest in annual HVAC maintenance service. This service will help to catch any problems with your system that could be causing inefficiency. It’s also very important to not only ensure that your system is working as efficiently as possible but also to keep the warranty coverage on your system active.
3. Use a Programmable Thermostat
Another great tip to help lower your energy bills is to employ the use of a smart thermostat. These thermostats will allow you to program different temperature settings depending on the time of day or the day of the week. You can optimize reducing energy use when you’re not at home and don’t need your home to be overly warm. Furthermore, some newer smart thermostats even come integrated with machine learning technology that can monitor your energy use and make adjustments to help reduce your overall consumption.
4. Seal Up Air Leaks
Any air leaks in your home can allow unwanted cold air to penetrate the air inside. This will cause your heating system to constantly run to combat the cold weather coming in. A great way to avoid this problem is to seal up any air leaks that you have. Air leaks can develop on the exterior walls of your home around door and window frames. Consider using caulking, weatherstripping, or spray foam insulation to help seal these areas and prevent the cold air from coming into your home.
5. Keep Up With Filter Changes
One of the biggest efficiency killers of a heating system is a dirty air filter. When the filter gets trapped full, it acts more like a wall so that your heating system will have to struggle to pull air through it. It’s best to check your filter every month and replace it as soon as necessary. Be sure you always have a spare filter on hand so you can do the replacement without hesitation.
6. Use Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans make a great addition to any HVAC system. During the winter months, set your ceiling fans to spin in the reverse direction. This will force hot air stuck at the top of the room outward and into your walls. The hot air will travel down your walls and back to the floor where you can enjoy its warmth. The more you’re able to recirculate the hot air that your heating system has already produced, the less you’ll need to run your heating system.
7. Invest in an Energy Audit
One really helpful investment that you can make to help reduce your energy bills is a home energy audit. This is where an HVAC technician comes out to your home and assesses any energy loss in its different rooms. By being able to know exactly where most of your heat is being lost, you can be proactive in preventing it in the future.
8. Consider a System Upgrade
If your existing heating system is over 10 years old, it’s likely getting more inefficient by the year. It can be highly advantageous to invest in a new heating system that’s more energy-efficient. Even standard heating systems produced today are more energy efficient than systems produced just a decade ago. You also have the option of purchasing high-efficiency heating systems at a slightly higher price, which will go a long way in reducing your annual heating bills.
Exceptional Heating System Maintenance, Repair, Installation, and More
At Your Service Heating & Cooling LLC offers comprehensive heating system services for the whole Baltimore, MD region. We can also assist with all your heating, air conditioning, indoor air quality, duct cleaning, duct sealing, backup generator, and commercial needs. Book an appointment with one of our HVAC technicians by calling our office today.
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