Homeowners Guide: Heating Tips to Save Energy This Winter

Homeowners may experience more significant energy expenditures when the weather cools and work moves from the office to the house. With more of us staying at home over the holidays, it may not always be possible to lower your thermostat to save money on heating bills.

Fortunately, there are ways to save money on heating expenses while keeping our homes warm in the winter. Here are some energy-saving tips for the winter months when you spend more time indoors:

1. Keep the Heat Indoors

One of the best methods to keep warm is to prevent heat loss. Unsecure windows and doors can lose up to a third of a home’s heat. Additionally, ventilators, baseboards, and attic hatches may all let air into or out of your home. Sealing these entryways and ducts can contribute significantly in keeping warm air in and cold air out. 

Save an average of 10 to 20 percent on annual heating and cooling costs, or up to $166, when you do leak-caulking. Closing the curtains in the winter can also help avoid up to 10 percent heat loss. During the day, raising curtains on sunny windows can help improve temperatures. 

Don’t forget to close all your curtains nightly or on less sunny windows. Turn down the heat for eight hours every day to save up to ten percent on your heating and cooling bills.

2. Lower the Thermostat’s Temperature

Sleeping with the thermostat 10 to 15 degrees lower saves roughly 10 percent on heating bills. A smart thermostat can adjust the temperature properly when you are away from home. Remote thermostat control through phone, voice, or mobile app. Utilize a smart thermostat to save on energy expenses of up to $130 to $200 in annual energy bills.

Alternatively, a programmable thermostat may save you money all year long. It tracks your energy use throughout the day, allowing you to make micro-adjustments as needed.

3. Prepare Your Home for the Cold Weather

When the weather starts getting chilly, it’s your signal to decorate for the holidays. Furnish your sofa with soft throw blankets and your bed with flannel sheets to stay warm while sleeping. Better yet, invest in rugs and insulated draperies to keep your house warm and your feet toasty.

4. Change Your Fan Settings

In the summer, ceiling fans provide a wind-chill effect that can feel up to 8 degrees colder. However, in the winter, few people want to be colder. While it may seem counterproductive to get more air indoors, a ceiling fan’s reverse feature can help during colder seasons. By reversing your fan, the blades will spin in the other direction, bringing warm air ascending to the ceiling back down to you.

5. Allow Light to Enter

During the day, open the curtains or blinds on your south-facing windows to let the sun heat your home for free! Close all blinds and curtains once the sun goes down in the evenings to decrease heat loss.

6. Regularly Inspect and Replace Your Furnace Filter

Before winter comes, schedule a professional to service your HVAC systems. Make sure the furnace filters are clean to avoid overworking the equipment. Some filters can still be reused after cleaning, while others need to be replaced. Think about hiring an HVAC expert to go over your system and suggest improvements.

7. Plan Annual Upkeep

High energy costs might signal a furnace issue. Heating systems work more to keep your home warm, increasing energy expenditures. Annual maintenance saves money on both comfort and repair expenses. Maintenance is the most economical approach to keep your house warm and save money on power. 

Conclusion

Saving energy isn’t simply a wintertime activity. Many of these suggestions can save you money all year round. These methods are equally effective at keeping your home cool in the summer as they keep you warm in the winter. Saving energy in the winter is a great way to save money annually.

At Good Guys Home Services, we strive to surpass your expectations when you need us to inspect and service your HVAC to ensure your home is ready for the winter. We have years of experience and reputation backing us up. You can rely on us to provide you with the best HVAC services for your home or business. We are the good guys for a reason, so reach out to us today!