December 5th, 2021
Did you know that during the winter, up to 29% of your utility bill can come from energy consumed heating your home? Sometimes, that percentage is even higher! Fortunately, there are lots of simple ways to get your heating costs under control:
Lower Your Thermostat.
Nobody likes a chilly house, but nobody likes wasting money, either! Just one degree cooler can lower your heating bill by 3% over a 24-hour period, and you probably won’t even notice the difference if you dress warmly in layers and drink hot beverages. You can increase these savings by installing a programmable thermostat in Mercer County, NJ. These thermostats provide more heating when you need it (raising the temperature right before you wake up or get home from work), and they let the temperature get lower when heating is not necessary (such as when no one is home during the day, or when everyone in the house is asleep during the middle of the night).Change your air filters.
If you find yourself wondering how often you should replace a furnace filter, the answer is at least once every 3 months for 1″ filters and at least once every 6 months for 2″-6″ filters. This means you should replace your filters at least once every heating season. Clean filters mean better airflow, for increased energy efficiency and a longer heating system lifespan.
Clean your vents and radiators.
This is another simple but effective way to improve the efficiency of your heating system. Dust can act as an insulator, so if there’s dust on your vents and radiators, it will trap some of the heat and make the system less efficient. In addition to dusting, make sure there aren’t any rugs or large objects (such as furniture) in front of the radiator, as these can block airflow.Use ceiling fans to your advantage.
Most of us think of using fans to keep cool during the summer, but did you know they can also help you stay warm during the winter? If you switch the fan’s setting to rotate clockwise (instead of counterclockwise, the direction they spin to cool a room during the summer), the fan will push air downward. This helps because after warm air enters a room through a vent, it rises. By pushing this warm air back down to you again, the fan will make the room feel warmer.Use doors and windows to your advantage.
In addition to reducing drafts, you can increase the amount of heat entering your home by opening your shades and curtains on south-facing windows. This way, sunshine will enter the house to add warmth during the day. After sundown, close your curtains and blinds to reduce drafts.Keep doors and vents to any unoccupied rooms closed, so you don’t waste energy heating them or letting heated air get into them. You should also keep doors to occupied rooms closed, so that body heat and warmth from lights and appliances will stay inside the room and keep it warm.
Upgrade your heating system.
If your heating system is near or past the end of its expected lifespan, we recommend upgrading to a new, energy-efficient system. While more energy-efficiency means a higher upfront cost, it also means long-term savings. If you’re interested in a heat pump installation in Hightstown, NJ or are looking for a boiler installer in Newtown, PA, you’ve come to the right place! Contact SG Heating & Air Conditioning LLC using this form or by calling us at 609-448-1273!
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