As the cool air of fall settles in, your heating system is about to become a central figure in your household. While it’s essential for season-long comfort, comfort, operating your furnace doesn’t have to cost you a lot. In fact, with a few simple changes and preventive steps, you can keep your home cozy without overspending on your heating bills. Here’s how:
1. Replace Dirty Filters
A clogged filter restricts airflow, thereby forcing your heating system to work extra hard to generate the right amount of comfort your family requires. And the harder it works, the steeper the operating costs and energy bills. So, to help cut your energy bills and prevent system breakdowns, check your filter roughly every 8 weeks during the heating season and clean or replace it as needed.
2. Seal Air Leaks and Improve Insulation
Drafty windows and doors can drain your home of warm air—and your wallet of money. Use caulk or weatherstripping to seal leaks and prevent cold air from creeping inside. Adding insulation in attics, crawl spaces, and basements will further seal in warmth and reduce how hard your furnace must work.
3. Upgrade to a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
Replacing your conventional thermostat with a programmable model is a simple way to avoid heating an empty home. Set it to lower the temperature while you’re at work or asleep and then warm things up just before you return or wake. Smart thermostats take it further by learning your patterns and automatically adjusting for maximum savings and comfort.
4. Lower the Thermostat, and Save
Even a small adjustment on your thermostat makes a big difference. In fact, lowering it by two or three degrees can result in noticeable savings over the course of the season. Instead of raising the heat, grab a blanket, wear thicker socks, and enjoy the comfort of cozy layers.
5. Let the Sun Do the Work
On sunny days, open curtains or blinds to let natural warmth in. At night, close them to help insulate windows and keep that extra heat indoors.
6. Keep Vents Clear
Blocked vents and registers prevent warm air from circulating properly. To help maintain maximum airflow, move furniture, rugs, and curtains away from registers to permit an even distribution of heat throughout your home.
7. Schedule Preventive Maintenance
The best way to conserve energy is to make sure your furnace or heat pump is running at maximum efficiency. A professional tune-up before the first cold snap can help us identify minor performance issues, clean important components, and keep everything working properly. Well-maintained heating systems not only use less energy but also last longer and incur fewer and less costly repairs. Contact Zach Heating & Cooling today to schedule preventive maintenance at its best.