When temperatures decline and you need your heating system to run on a consistent basis, it can seem hard to save money. After all, your HVAC systems take up half of all the energy use in a home, and it’s obviously not practical to just shut off your heating system–we need our heaters here in Colorado Springs!
You can improve heating efficiency with these tips from our expert technicians. Reach out to a professional technician to schedule service today!
Use a Programmable Thermostat
Using a programmable thermostat as it’s intended is one of the easiest ways to cut down on your utility bills. Modern programmable thermostats can enable you to make different schedules for nighttime and daytime, for weekends and weekdays, or for slight variations throughout the day.
You may even find it beneficial to invest in a smart thermostat, which will allow you to change the temperature remotely, no matter where you are. You can check in on the temperature while you’re running errands, while you’re at work, etc. Just make sure you have a professionally trained technician to install your new thermostat for you.
Lower the Temperature
If you are really trying to cut down on your energy costs, you may need to make a big shift in how you set your home’s thermostat. The Department of Energy suggests that you set your thermostat to about 68°F if you want to save, and lower it, even more, when nobody is home and when you’re sleeping. The point is to make it so your furnace or heating system doesn’t have to run as long or start up as often, as this it what drains power.
Utilize Other Heat Sources
We would never recommend using cooking appliances as your main source of heat, but they can certainly supplement your heating efforts. If you have the ingredients to make a hearty meal that you’ll need the oven or stovetop for, do it! Also, as long as you have no pets or small children, you can leave the oven door open as it cools down to allow some of the ambient heat to disperse into your living space.
Also, if you have south-facing windows, then during the sunny parts of the day, keep your blinds and curtains open! It will help bring in some natural heat, at least on milder days.
Make Sure You Have Proper Insulation
Insulating your home properly and sealing up air leaks helps to keep heat in. Make sure you have insulation added to your attic and crawlspace. The more insulation you have the better! And don’t forget, insulation doesn’t just help in the wintertime. It helps prevent heat transfer period–so good insulation helps to keep heat out of your space in the summer, too.
Change the Air Filter
Many homeowners assume that the heating system’s air filter is in place to protect their indoor air quality. But it’s actually there to protect the interior components of the system itself from dust, dirt, and other debris. If the air filter gets too clogged up, it restricts airflow, which is inefficient.
This air filter should be changed every 1-3 months, depending on the type of air filter and the level of contaminants in your home.
For professional heating repair in Colorado Springs, CO, contact Brown’s Heating & Cooling.