Heating your home can take a big bite out of your budget in the winter. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to keep your home comfortable while keeping your energy costs low. Here are several tips for heating up your home and lowering your heating bill.
Turn Down the Thermostat
Lowering the temperature by seven to 10 degrees for eight hours per day can lower your heating costs as much as 10%. Set your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day, and lower when you are away from home. Installing a programmable thermostat will make this simple and easy.
Use Ceiling Fans
Most people think of cooling off when they think of ceiling fans—but your ceiling fan can also help keep your house warm. Set your ceiling fan to rotate clockwise. This will push warm air down and draw cool air upward, boosting the temperature of the room.
Repair Air Leaks
Hidden air leaks will let cold air into your home and let warm air out. Check around your windows and doors. Use weather-stripping or caulk to seal any air leaks you find. Warm air can also escape through your chimney. Make sure to close the flue on your fireplace when you're not using it.
Replace Your Air Filters
Dirty, clogged filters disrupt airflow, forcing your furnace to work harder and consume more energy. Always change your furnace's air filters regularly. Keeping your filters clean will improve the performance of your furnace, and will also give your indoor air quality a nice boost.
Schedule Heating Service
A furnace that's well-maintained will perform better. A furnace often uses more energy when it needs repair. Be sure to schedule heating service each year to make sure your furnace keeps working smoothly. No one wants to be left without a working furnace on a cold day.
For more assistance with your HVAC system, contact us today.
