5 tips to reduce heating bills in winter
During the winter months, we want our homes to be warm and comfortable. Unfortunately, heating costs also have a significant impact on utility bills. However, we believe that by taking a few simple steps to improve your home's energy efficiency and optimize your heating system, you can keep yourself comfortable while reducing your utility bills. These tips will help you reduce your winter heating costs.
How can I influence the heating costs?
Keeping the air inside warm is a top priority in the winter. This is important both for energy efficiency and to reduce heating costs. High heating bills can be the result of several things. Inadequate insulation in your home, poorly sealed doors, windows, or even electrical sockets allow warm air to escape. As a result, your heating system has to use more energy to maintain a comfortable temperature.
The way you heat your home can also affect your heating bills, either positively or negatively. Specifically, how you use the thermostat or supplemental heating equipment.
Fun fact: Using a humidifier during the colder months will make the air in your home even warmer.
The condition and age of your heating system can also increase your heating costs. The more wear and tear your heating equipment has, the harder the system will work to keep you comfortable, resulting in higher heating costs.
It's important to schedule regular HVAC maintenance to make sure your home is heated properly. Ideally, heaters should be inspected twice a year - before the heating season and after it ends. Preventive maintenance allows you to catch and fix problems early, ensuring that your equipment will last a long time and be ready to serve you when you need to stay warm.
1. Check insulation
Winter heating costs increase if the home is inefficiently insulated. Don't let money escape through the cracks. Make sure your windows and doors are tightly sealed to prevent warm air from escaping your home. Use caulk and seal any visible gaps to keep more warm air in.
Insulating your home's walls and attic is another important step. Help reduce heating bills by reducing the amount of heat lost through the roof and walls. Check all common points of heat loss to make sure you are keeping hot air in and cold air out. These include windows, doors, fireplaces, roof, walls, and electrical outlets.
2. Using your thermostat wisely
Once you have taken care of minimizing heat loss, use a thermostat to regulate the temperature in your home. A smart thermostat learns your preferences and adjusts the temperature in your home based on when you are home, away, and asleep. By using a smart thermostat, your home can automatically adjust to a lower temperature, which can help reduce your heating bills.
In general, lowering the temperature on your thermostat for periods when you are away or sleeping can make a big difference in your heating bills. Try lowering the temperature when you go to bed and before you leave for work in the morning. Even a small decrease in the temperature on your thermostat can result in a significant reduction in your utility bills.
3. Air filter service check
Using a heater will likely cause the air filters to become dirty quickly. This can also reduce the efficiency of the heating system as a whole. Check the air filters and replace if necessary.
Have your filters checked at the beginning of each season and as needed to ensure healthy air quality in your home.
4. Using alternative and additional heaters
Using alternative heating elements for your home can also have an impact on comfort and heating costs. An electric heater placed in the room you are currently in can maintain the temperature when the thermostat is set to a lower setting. This method keeps you comfortable and significantly reduces heating costs.
Using a humidifier is another good way to keep your home warm without turning on the heat or lowering the thermostat. Moist air can feel warmer than dry air. By setting the thermostat a little lower and keeping the humidifier running, you'll get the same cozy feeling.
5. Schedule your maintenance
Regular maintenance of your HVAC system is the best way to ensure that your unit runs efficiently every season, including winter.
During a tune-up, experts will check and adjust all the individual components of your heating system. Your heating system will perform better overall when all of its components are working as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Reduce your heating costs in the winter by having us service your HVAC system. If you are in Philadelphia the team of AC Comfort Service Inc. will take the hassle out of keeping your home comfortable by performing seasonal heating system maintenance.
