When the cold winter weather sets in, many people are concerned with the rise in their utility bills. It’s important to realize that you have more control over your heating bills than you may think. In fact, we’re going to share with you our best tips for lowering your energy bill this winter season.
Use Ceiling Fans
By far, one of the best ways to help lower your heating system usage is to supplement with a ceiling fan. You likely have them in many rooms of your home; be sure to set them to spin in a clockwise direction. This will force warm air from the top of the room outward and back down to the floor. With this hot air recirculation, you can enjoy staying comfortable at home while not running your heating system as often.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
Investing in a programmable or smart thermostat is an absolute necessity for any homeowner trying to be more efficient with their wintertime energy usage. These thermostats allow you to program in different temperature settings depending on the time of the day and the day of the week. This means you can set the temperature to be much lower during times when no one is home and then turn the heat back up just before you arrive back home. With a smart thermostat, you even get the advantage of being able to control your thermostat from your smartphone so you can make last-minute adjustments as needed.
Seal Off Air Leaks
Air leaks can develop on your exterior walls due to the natural settling process of your home. It’s highly advisable to check the most susceptible areas of your exterior walls for new air leaks every fall season. You can check by running your hand around door and window frames as well as any light switches and outlets on your exterior walls. If you notice a temperature change, then you have a leak. You can use caulking or weatherstripping around door and window frames. You can opt to use foam insert pads behind the cover plates of outlets and light switches to stop that unwanted cold airflow.
Invest in Quality Insulation
Insulation is a necessary barrier between the temperature inside your home and the temperature outside. The more resistant insulation is to temperature change, the higher its R-value is. There are different building code R-value recommendations based on where you live in the country. It can be helpful to invest in insulation that either meets or exceeds the recommended R-value. Furthermore, it can be helpful to assess the state of your insulation each year to ensure that it’s sitting just above the joists in your attic.
Insulate Your Water Heater
If you rely on a tank-style water heater to provide warm water for your home, then it’s going to continually heat the water that is in its tank. If your water heater lacks proper insulation, heat from the water will dissipate into the surrounding air. This will cause your water heater to continually kick on to warm your water back up to temperature. You can easily reduce this wasteful energy usage by simply adding an insulating coating around your water heater during the winter months so it can keep the heat trapped in the water inside its tank.
Use Natural Sunlight
It has been shown that direct sunlight from a wndow can heat up a room’s temperature by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Just imagine how long your heating system would have to run to heat up your home by 10 degrees. Do yourself a favor and open up your blinds and curtains to let in natural sunlight throughout the day. Ideally, the more sunlight you can get into your home, the better for your energy bills (and mental health!).
Invest in Heating System Maintenance
One of the best ways to keep your energy bills in check this winter season is by ensuring that your heating system gets the maintenance it needs to operate at its peak condition. This means scheduling professional maintenance services in the early fall. It also means regularly checking and replacing your HVAC filter when necessary. In fact, be sure to keep an extra filter on hand so you never have to keep using a dirty filter while waiting for a replacement.
Use Only LEDs
In the lighting world, there’s simply no comparison when it comes to LED and incandescent lighting. LED is 75% more energy-efficient and even lasts 25 times longer. If you’re still relying on incandescent lighting for any overhead lights or lamps, it’s time to switch. LED lights are very affordable for homeowners and are one of the easiest things to switch to lower your energy bills.
Make Your Home More Comfortable
One of the biggest drivers of energy bills during the winter months is uncomfortableness. When your body gets cold, you end up turning up the thermostat. You can do a few simple things around your home to help your body stay warm without having to jack up your energy bills for the season. Start by opting to wear heavier clothing while lounging around the house.
This can include things like a sweatshirt, pants, and even wool socks. Consider adding some area rugs to rooms that have hardwood to provide an extra layer of insulation to keep your feet warm. Strategically place blankets on couches and chairs for easy access and invest in down comforters that retain more body heat.
Unplug Unused Electrical Devices
In this modern day and age, many of us rely on an abundance of electrical devices. However, if you’re like most, you don’t use all your electrical devices each day. In fact, you may not even use some devices more than once a month. If you leave these devices plugged in, they will use power even though you may have them off. This is called phantom power, and it can add up when it comes to powering a multitude of appliances.
Upgrade to More Energy-Efficient Appliances
If any of your household appliances, including your HVAC system, is over 10 years old, it’s time to think about upgrading. Choosing appliances that have an ENERGY STAR rating can help to ensure you’re getting optimal energy efficiency. You may even want to consider switching to a different type of HVAC system, such as a heat pump, that can offer even more efficiency than traditional furnace or boiler systems.
Get a Home Energy Audit
One of the best investments you can make is in getting a home energy audit. Most HVAC contractors will offer this service where they will go through your home and identify potential areas of heat loss. This can give you exact problem locations that you can address to minimize your heat loss during the cold winter months.
Trustworthy Heating Maintenance Service
Loves Air offers trustworthy heating maintenance service to the Modesto, CA area. We can also help with all your heating, air conditioning, thermostat, whole house fan, water heater, duct sealing, solar, and window needs. Simply call our office today to schedule your next appointment.
