Are you looking for the best tips and tricks for lowering your monthly heating expenses?
While most “tips and tricks” consist of using your heater as little as possible, we don’t think that’s a comfortable or practical approach. Besides, why have a heater if you’re not going to use it?
Instead, we think you can achieve the comfort you want—at the cost you want—with various HVAC services in Placerville, CA and some general tips.
1. Don’t Let the Heat Escape
As a general rule, you don’t want any of your heated air to escape from the home. It’s the equivalent of throwing your money out the window, after all.
You can start by being extra diligent about keeping doors and windows closed during operation. After that, however, you may need some HVAC assistance:
- Air sealing: Using weather stripping and other sealants, you can seal up all the drafty and leaky areas in your home. Everything from the cracks around doors to the spaces around electrical outlets can cause your air to leak out of the home.
- Insulation: Insulation is what keeps the hot air inside your home, instead of rising through the attic and outside. It might be time to reinsulate your home if it has been a while.
- Heat and Energy Recovery Ventilators: All that confined air can get stuffy, and it’s enough to make you want to open a window. Instead, a heat or energy recovery ventilator can help exchange your indoor air for fresh, outdoor air—all without hampering efficiency.
2. Have Your Ducts Inspected
A huge boost to your efficiency can come from having your ducts inspected. If it turns out that leaks or other duct issues have been allowing air to escape, getting them sealed ASAP could be just what you need.
The need for duct sealing isn’t something that arises every year, but it’s prone to happen several years after a duct system has been installed. If your ducts were already built into your home when you moved in and you have no record of them being tested, now will be a good time to check them out.
3. Thermostat Discipline
Nothing can help your efficiency if you’re always adjusting the thermostat every day. Those little adjustments will add up, contributing to an unnecessarily large heating bill. Introducing some discipline into how you handle your thermostat can help keep costs low. There are a couple of ways you can achieve that:
- Programmable thermostat: If your thermostat doesn’t have programming functions, upgrading it can help tremendously. This allows you to create scheduling options for your heating. Just stick to the schedule and you should see better bills.
- Smart thermostat: If the programmable thermostat isn’t enough, upgrade to a smart thermostat. This type of thermostat can make automatic adjustments throughout the entire day, even when you’re not home, all for the purpose of keeping your costs lower. For additional guidance, check out our advice on when it’s time for an HVAC upgrade to explore how a smart thermostat can fit into your overall system improvements.
It also doesn’t hurt to ensure your thermostat is clean. By taking off the faceplate, you can wipe off any dust that might be giving the sensors inaccurate temperature readings. Maintaining a clean and accurate thermostat is just one of 3 tips for improving heating efficiency that can help reduce energy costs while keeping your home comfortable. We’re here to help with everything from HVAC upgrades to regular maintenance. Visit our furnace services page to learn more about optimizing your home’s heating efficiency.
Regular Furnace Maintenance
Scheduling regular furnace maintenance is one of the most effective ways to improve heating efficiency. During a maintenance visit, a professional HVAC technician will clean and inspect critical components, such as the blower motor, heat exchanger, and burners, to ensure they are functioning optimally. Preventative maintenance also helps identify and address small issues before they turn into costly repairs, keeping your heating system running efficiently and extending its lifespan.
Use Ceiling Fans Strategically
Ceiling fans aren’t just for cooling—they can also help with heating efficiency. By running your ceiling fans in reverse (clockwise) during the winter, you can push the warm air that rises back down into the living space. This reduces the strain on your furnace and allows your home to feel warmer without having to adjust the thermostat.
For more tips on how to save energy, contact Sierra Pacific Home & Comfort, Inc., The Guys in the Big Red Trucks.