Hello World! Welcome Friends! If you live in a climate that’s prone to cold winters, your home heating costs are likely high. This utility is necessary to keep your home healthy and warm, but it’s still worth reducing consumption wherever possible.
Making your home heating run more efficiently will help improve your budget while impacting the environment less. Here’s how to make it happen with a few simple routines and changes.
Schedule Annual HVAC Maintenance
One of the best things you can do to keep your home heating system running smoothly is to schedule annual HVAC and furnace maintenance. If your heating system isn’t functioning properly, it will cause your heating bill to skyrocket (read more about regular maintenance needs at jenningsheating.com/akron/heater-repair/). For many people, these regular checks are the only way to find out that something is amiss.
Scheduling an annual furnace tune-up in the fall ensures that everything is running in tip-top shape for the winter season. The technician will come to check for loose connections, clear out grime and dust from the blowers and make any minor repairs that need to be completed. Consider scheduling this for the early fall and an air conditioning check during the early spring.
Rethink Your Landscaping
Believe it or not, your yard’s landscaping directly impacts your home heating costs and consumption. With strategic landscaping, you can help make both your heating and cooling efforts more efficient.
Your strategy ultimately depends on your climate. If you live in a temperate or cool region, consider putting in trees as wind blockers on your house’s north and west sides. This arrangement will also allow the winter sun to reach your windows during the cooler months.
Close Unused Rooms
If a room isn’t in use or continuous heating isn’t a priority (such as in secondary bathrooms, for example), keep the doors closed to better direct the heat to the rooms that need it most. You can also close the vents in these rooms for optimal results.
When heating your home throughout the day, it’s also worth keeping bedroom doors closed. Cooler temperatures are better for quality sleep; leaving the door closed until the evening could make the room more conducive to a good night’s rest.
Program Temperature Changes
If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, it’s time for an upgrade. These systems allow you to adjust the temperature based on when people will be home or away. Smart thermostats take this feature one step further with remote controls and intuitive programming. This strategy is a great way to extend your home heating system’s lifespan while cutting costs.
Find and Seal Drafts
Every year as you make a to-do list for winter maintenance and preparation, add “find and seal drafts” to your list. There are several methods for detecting drafts. You can use a candle or incense near windows and doors or hang a coat hanger or plastic bag. It’s also wise to check your outlets and determine if you need more insulation in those areas.
Once you find drafts, use caulking, weather stripping, draft protectors or a window sealing kit to correct the issue.
Use Area Rugs
One of the downsides of moving away from carpets and toward exposed flooring is the lack of insulation between floors. If you have wood, vinyl, or laminate floors, consider using a few area rugs to help provide a warm, soft layer that traps heat.
Close the Flue
If you have a fireplace, you could be paying to heat the outdoors. It’s estimated that leaving your flue open is similar to leaving a large window open during the winter months. Be sure to close your flue, especially when the fireplace isn’t in use.
With these simple strategies, you can improve the efficiency of your home heating system to save money and promote sustainability at home.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
Types Of Damage That Can Affect Your House
Pro Tips For DIY Termite Control
Ways to Keep Home Plumbing System Healthy
Types of Roofing Services You May Require
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Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
A programmable thermostat is the most important thing in HVAC systems, other are air tightening of covered area and regular checkup of hvac units electric and mechanical systems.