With energy costs taking up a significant portion of your utility bill, it pays to find ways to reduce your home heating bills. In this post, we’ve put together some tips describing different ways to save on heating costs that are easy and will all add up to reduce your home heating bills by a significant amount. Many of you will be relieved to hear that you don’t need to have much background on heating and cooling systems to act upon this advice, either. Some of this advice just takes a minute or two. Even small changes will add up to big savings over the course of a cold winter.
Check For Leaks
Check your air ducts for gaps, leaks or disconnects. If you have any disconnects or leaks in your ductwork, your heating bills could be 25% higher than they would be if these gaps were sealed. Most homeowners choose to hire a professional to properly diagnose and fix any leaky spots. An expert can also clean your ducts for added efficiency.
If you were to add up all of the small cracks and holes in your house, they would probably add up to a small window, wide open, letting cold air in and hot air out. Take the time to find gaps in windows, doors, pipes, electrical and phone lines, your dryer duct and much more. Put weather-strips around your doors and windows. You can buy insulation foam that comes in a can with a straw at the top that allows you to fill in tight spaces. These materials expand to fill even the smallest cracks.
Be Smart With Your Thermostat
What temperature should you set your thermostat in the winter? To save energy and costs, you should adjust your thermostat a few degrees lower than the normal setting. Believe it or not, this really adds up over time.
Experts also recommend replacing your thermostat if it is not programmable. Using one of these devices, you can set the thermostat so the temperature setting in your house is lower at night than during the day when you are awake. Also, if you are away at work during the day, you can set your home for a lower temperature and have it programmed to start heating the house a little bit before you come home. These devices aren’t too expensive and are easy to install and configure yourself.
Close Vents And Open Curtains
Close the vents in rooms that you do not use. Doing so will help to shut out the hot air ducts and make sure the windows and doors are properly sealed to limit energy leakage. Why waste your money heating up the extra square footage of your house that you don’t even use?
In a similar vein, open the drapes and shades for all of your windows during the day to let the sun heat your home. In the evening, pull them back down for added insulation. It is amazing how much direct sunlight streaming into your home helps to heat up your living spaces.
Use Your Fireplace For Your Benefit
Your fireplace can help and hurt your heating costs. If you are not using your fireplace, make sure the damper is closed. When the damper is closed, inspect it to ensure that cold air is not still leaking in. If you are using your fireplace, make sure the heat in the rest of your house is lowered or turned off. If you are using your fireplace this winter season make sure to follow these fire safety tips.
ABC Can Help You Save On Heating Bills
Taking the time to implement these tips will reduce your home heating bills and help you conserve energy. Many of our customers at ABC Home & Commercial Services appreciate our friendly and helpful tips to save on utility bills and get the most out of their heating and cooling systems. Our trained and experienced technicians can advise you on how to keep your living spaces cozy in the winter and cool in the summer. With ABC’s help, you’ll be comfortable in your home without having to lift a finger!
