Winter can be brutally cold, and this means that heating your home can quickly become quite expensive. Luckily, there are a number of ways that you can help reduce your winter heating costs without having to sacrifice your comfort.
With this in mind, here are four simple ways that can help you save this winter.
Have Your Heating System Professionally Maintained
Regular maintenance is vital for the effectiveness and energy efficiency of your heating system, and this is true no matter if you have a gas furnace, heat pump, or electric heating.
Your heating system should ideally be professionally maintained at least once a year. The best time to do this is during the fall as this ensures that your heating system is functioning properly once the cold weather really sets in.
Professional heating maintenance services like Fred Williams and Sons Heating & Cooling can help reduce your energy costs by ensuring that your system is functioning at its peak efficiency level.
Install a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
Programmable thermostats are a huge help in reducing both heating and cooling costs. With a programmable thermostat, you won’t need to choose between having your heating system running all day or coming home to a cold house as you can program when the system turns on and off.
Smart thermostats provide even greater benefits by allowing you to control the system remotely from your phone. Most smart thermostats will also learn about your behaviors and routine and then automatically adjust the heating system so that it functions as efficiently as possible.
Check for Air Leaks Around Your Windows and Doors
Air leaks around windows and doors can be a huge source of heat loss. Any leaks also allow lots of cold air to seep into the building. This means that your heating system will need to run for longer to compensate for these factors.
The easiest way to prevent this problem is to check that your windows and doors are properly sealed. You can feel around the openings to see if any cold air is coming in, and you should also check the caulking and weather strips.
If you have old single-pane windows, you also might want to consider sealing the inside with plastic to prevent cold air from getting inside. It’s amazing how much a simple air leak can contribute to poor heating in your home.
Don’t underestimate an air leak; get it fixed as quickly as possible to avoid a larger bill.
Use Ceiling Fans to Recirculate Hot Air
Hot air rises, which means that much of the air from your heating system will get trapped near your ceilings. When this happens, your heating system will need to run longer since the thermostat measures the temperature at eye level, not at the ceiling.
other related articles of interest:
Reducing Power and Gas Bills with Energy Efficiency Measures
If your home has ceiling fans, you can use them to recirculate the hot air. Most ceiling fans can run in reverse, which will push the hot air down towards the ground.
While this may not sound like much, it can actually have a major impact on how often your heating system has to run.
Winter can be a wonderful time. Unfortunately, the cold weather can also have a major impact on your pocketbook.
Luckily, following these simple tips can go a long way toward reducing how much it costs to keep your home warm and toasty this winter. You’ll be surprised what a difference it will make!
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Image credit: how to save on winter utility bills by envato.com
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