Does the price of your winter heating bills have you stressed out? There are some simple ways that you can cut back on your heating expenses. Your home will remain comfortable, cozy, and safe all season.
Seal Your Home
Regardless of how old your home is, you are likely to have some cracks and gaps that allow cold air to seep into your home. Also, warm, conditioned air is escaping into the outdoors. Sealing up these areas using materials like spray foam, caulk, and weather stripping can create a tighter home envelope that will save you money on your heating bill.
Government Programs
You may be eligible for a government program that assists low-income families with their heating and utility bills. Check with the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to find out more. There may be other incentives associated with weatherproofing and insulating your home. We can help you determine what you’re eligible for.
Changing Your Thermostat Setting
If you lower your thermostat setting by one or two degrees, you’ll save some money on your heating expenses. However, you shouldn’t notice much of a difference in the comfort level of your home with such a subtle change.
You can also utilize the scheduling function of your thermostat to budget accordingly. If you’re gone for several hours each day, there’s no need to keep your home at a very high temperature. You can set your schedule to drop the temperature while you’re away. It can change back to a more comfortable degree when you are arriving home.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
Smart thermostats offer several features that can make it easy to save money on your heating costs. In addition to scheduling options, some smart thermostats can change your temperature setting based on where you are. It senses when your smart device is within a certain range of your home, making changes to keep you comfortable while saving energy.
A smart thermostat provides you with the convenience of changing your settings remotely or while you’re sitting down somewhere in your home. You can make energy-efficient changes without having to be near your thermostat.
Scheduling Routine Maintenance
Routine maintenance from our experienced team is a great way to protect the integrity of your furnace and HVAC system. This process allows us to spot minor issues before they spiral out of control, costing you a ton of money in repairs. Routine maintenance can also improve the efficiency of your furnace, reducing your heating bills. Changing your furnace’s air filter is one maintenance task that you can and should do at home, once in the beginning of the winter and then every couple months thereafter. But for the nitty-gritty tune-ups, leave it to the professionals. Trying to do your own maintenance can even void your furnace’s warranty.
Utilize Natural Light
If the sun is shining, open your blinds and curtains to let natural light in. This can naturally heat up your home without having to run your furnace extensively. The portion of your home that benefits from this may change throughout the day based on where the sun is at different times of day.
Maintain Ceiling Fan Use
You may use your ceiling fans to cool your home in the summer, but they can be beneficial in the winter as well. Just make sure they are rotating clockwise. This will create an updraft that moves warm air from the ceiling down to the ground and cool air upwards.
Adjust Dampers
Dampers are plates in your ductwork that can be adjusted to control the flow of conditioned air throughout your home. Assess your home to see where you have cold spots, and which rooms are warmer than others. Adjust your dampers accordingly to provide more consistent heat. This can save you money by preventing your furnace from overworking to heat colder areas.
If you would like to learn more ways to save money on your home heating bills, reach out to the team here at Bratcher Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.. We also offer new heating and cooling installation services, emergency repairs, and routine maintenance. We also address indoor air quality and offer commercial services to the Peoria, IL, area. Contact Bratcher Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. today to schedule an appointment.
