Throughout the winter months in northeastern Pennsylvania, when outside temperatures take a nosedive, it’s critical to know how to conserve heat energy at home and boost your heating system’s performance to keep your house warm and comfy. Here are a variety of tips to reduce heating costs while effectively heating your home this winter.
Note: A number of the tips discussed here have been mentioned in previous blogs, but it’s important to repeat them as they are essential to keeping your home comfortable year- round.
Keep up with regular HVAC maintenance
A huge waste of energy is a heating system working harder than it needs to be. Even the newest, most efficient HVAC systems require maintenance to work their best. You may be surprised at the impact keeping up with maintenance can have on your energy savings.
Change furnace filters routinely. As we’ve preached in previous blogs, you need to replace filters monthly during heating season to boost efficiency.
Clean vents and registers. Get rid of dust and debris to enhance airflow.
Adjust dampers. In forced-air systems, balance the airflow to different areas of your home.
Inspect ductwork. Look for leaks and seal them with metal-backed tape or mastic sealant.
AC&R maintenance program
Whether you bought your HVAC system from AC&R Services or not, you can take part in our regular maintenance program. As a program member, you’ll be eligible for benefits including routine maintenance, as well as a discount on many repair services.
Seal drafts
A major cause of a cold house is drafts. These can occur most anywhere, including doorways and windows, cracked walls, or the base of the chimney, to name a few. Luckily, these are normally an easy fix.
Begin by looking for any gaps around doors and windows and seal them with weather-stripping silicone caulk. Also, you might want to attach door sweeps to the bottom of exterior doors to help block drafts. You can also take advantage of heavy curtains or blinds to lessen heat loss, particularly in rooms that are used infrequently. These draft-stopping practices can lower your energy bills appreciably and make your home a more comfy space during the harsh winter months.
Install a programmable thermostat
If it’s in the budget, putting in a smart thermostat is one of the most efficient ways to cut heating costs. These mechanisms deliver clear-cut temperature control and can “learn” your lifestyle to improve heating schedules without human intervention. However, even ordinary programmable thermostats can make a huge difference when managed properly.
Keep in mind, the best programmable thermostat is the one you’ll employ correctly, not the one with the most features.
Use ceiling fans in the winter
Efficient air circulation plays a critical role in supporting an energy-efficient home. Ceiling fans are important assets in realizing this goal.
Come the winter weather, adjusting your ceiling fan for the season is essential. For these winter months, alter your fan’s blades to rotate clockwise (or in reverse). This clockwise movement will help draw room air upwards, channeling warm air towards the ceiling and then pushing it down and toward the walls. This tactic helps ensure effective air circulation, maintaining your home’s warmth while also helping to lower heating costs.
Note: To locate the reverse switch, look on your fan above or below the blades or check the manual from the fan manufacturer.
Warm up with a rug
Were you aware that you might be wasting heat from under your feet? Floorboards are an elegant feature, but they certainly aren’t optimum for retaining warmth, particularly if they’re older or have developed gaps. Stone, vinyl or laminate flooring can also get chilly with the winter weather.
Take the edge off those frosty feet with a new rug. Not only will it cut down on any cold air slinking in, but it’ll also add a comfiness to the room.
Thick curtains
Windows can make or break the comfort of a room, particularly if there are no double-glazed windows. Installing winter-weight curtains (or draped blankets) keeps heat in the room far more effectively. They’re also great to keep out sound and light.
Harness sunlight during the day
When sunlight comes into your home, it’s chiefly ultraviolet radiation, which moves through glass without difficulty. Once it hits an object, the sunlight converts into radiant heat. To take advantage of all this free energy and gain additional warmth, open your blinds and curtains during the day and allow the sun’s heat to wash over you. But don’t forget to close your curtains when the sun goes down to keep that warmth inside.
Put up wall hangings
Focus that inner hippie (apologies to those who aren’t familiar with the term) and put up some hangings around your house. You’ll not only keep the heat in but look edgy while doing so.
Go with the flow
Be mindful of how the hot air circulates around your home. It’s enticing to locate the sofa as near as possible to the heat source, but this will hamper the flow of hot air throughout your house. To make sure you get the maximum out of your heat source, make darn sure nothing is obstructing the flow.
Insulate hot water pipes
Tired of waiting for your shower to get hot in the mornings? Why not try placing foam tubing around those hot water pipes? You won’t have to tolerate the cold for as long and there’s no need to be concerned so much about needless energy waste.
Dress for warmth
Truthfully, you don’t have to purchase, build or install anything to cut your heating bills. Minimal changes in your daily routine can have a considerable effect without any financial outlay. First and foremost, altering what you wear indoors can let you keep your thermostat at a lower setting while staying comfortable.
Know when to call your HVAC professionals at AC&R Services
No doubt, HVAC units are complex systems, and that’s why HVAC technicians require unique training and licensing. For projects beyond basic maintenance or issues with your system, contact the professionals at AC&R Services. Concerns that might involve a service call include:
Strange noises or odors: Thumping, whistling, rumbling or odd smells might point to serious problems that require immediate attention.
Imbalanced heating or cold spots: This could hint at issues with your ductwork or heating system.
Recurrent cycling on and off: If the furnace regularly short-cycles and altering the cycle-rate adjustment doesn’t solve it, there could be an issue with its sensors or limit switches.
Unexpected boost in energy bills: If your energy bills spike for no reason, your system may be out of order.