If you’re trying to save money on your utility bills, experts recommend keeping your thermostat at a chilly 68 degrees in the winter. This temperature can help you reduce heating costs while preserving your health.
However, for some of us, this recommendation is nowhere near warm enough for comfort! Worse, rising energy costs can make it hard to turn up the heat as much as we’d like.
Fortunately, keeping your home warm without breaking the bank is easier than you might think. With a few simple changes, you can keep your heater on low while enjoying warmer indoor temperatures. If you’re ready to enhance your household’s comfort, here are our best tips for staying cozy for less.
Change Your Furnace Filter
Changing a filter is such a basic heating maintenance task that it’s easy to forget. You should change your filter at least once every 90 days, depending on your household makeup, for as long as you’re using your furnace.
This simple change can make a huge difference! Sometimes, homeowners who initially believe they need heating repairs find that a clean filter does the trick instead. Once a furnace can circulate warm air through your home without needing to push it through a clogged filter, a lot of minor problems can disappear.
Seal Your Home
If you have poor insulation around your home, you’re letting some of your expensive heat escape outdoors. Taking the time to air-seal your home can ramp up your insulation and keep you warmer all winter long.
Start with basic tasks like sealing drafts around your windows and doors. A bit of caulk around the frames, weather stripping around window glass, or a door draft stopper at the bottom of a door may be the only things you need. Some homeowners with especially bad drafts get great results from draping a curtain over a window or even a front door, as this can help trap cold air in a single area.
In addition, do an inspection of the rest of your home for air-sealing purposes. Cracks around air ducts, gaps around pipes, and loose siding can let out some of your heat. Addressing these issues is crucial if you want to lower your energy bills.
Insulation is even more important in unheated spaces like attics, garages, and basements. You can often add insulation without the extra cost of opening up your walls, and certain types of insulation will be relatively cheap. Do your homework to find the most cost-effective options for your budget.
Move Your Furniture
Moving your furniture away from vents and registers can help boost the heating throughout your home. Though this may sound obvious, you’d be surprised how often we see homeowners move their furniture in front of vents for the summer and forget to move them again in the winter! When your vents are free of obstructions, your system is more efficient, heats your home faster, and will often cost you a bit less on your utility bills.
Let In the Light
During the day, pull back the curtains to let in the sun. Natural light can keep your home warm, and it may even allow you to rely on your heater less often, saving you money.
Whenever possible, stay near east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon to see the most benefits. Closing your curtains at sundown can keep the warm air from the sun trapped inside for a while.
Program Your Thermostat
If you have a programmable thermostat, scheduling your heating needs is a great way to save money during the winter.
This device allows you to crank up the temperature when you’re home and lower it while you’re away. It also makes this schedule a no-brainer, as you’ll never have to remember to adjust your thermostat on the way in or out to save money.
You should also consider lowering the temperature a little while you sleep. Stacking your bed with blankets or an electric heating pad is a much less expensive way to keep warm while you’re staying in one area of your home.
Change Your Ceiling Fans
Sometimes, it can get stuffy indoors when you’re running your heater, especially if you’ve sealed your home and kept the windows shut for a while.
Using your ceiling fan can help circulate air, but make sure you’ve set it to spin clockwise in the winter. Doing so pushes warm air toward the floor while directing cool air toward the ceiling.
Only Heat the Room You’re In
For certain types of HVAC systems, this tip will be a breeze. Make sure you’re only using your mini-split, radiator, or other ductless system in the room you’re in. This helps you avoid wasting energy on areas you won’t be spending time in.
With a central HVAC system, it might be tempting to use the same strategy by closing the vents in areas where you spend the least amount of time. Resist the urge! Doing so can make your system work harder to heat your home.
Instead, if you know you’ll only be in a single room, consider using an inexpensive standalone space heater to reduce your heating expenses.
Get a Seasonal Tune-Up
Last, but not least, reach out for professional maintenance. Regular tune-ups can keep your system at peak performance all season long. By helping you improve efficiency, the expense of this maintenance will often pay for itself.
During a tune-up, your technician will look for signs of wear and tear, clean dirty components, lubricate moving parts, and ensure the safety of your system. They’re also your best bet for avoiding frustrating furnace repairs or a faulty heat pump in the dead of winter.
Start Keeping Your Home Warm
If you’re hoping to get more out of your heating system this winter, supplement its efforts with our tips for keeping your home warm! Giving your heater a bit of TLC while making a few simple changes leads to more efficient heating, which helps with your energy bills.
As you work to ensure your home’s comfort, we hope you’ll choose Best Air and Heating as your trusted partner. Our seasoned technicians are proud to offer expert HVAC repair and maintenance services throughout the Cold Spring area and beyond. To schedule service, contact us at 936-213-5116.
