When it comes to using our home comfort systems, we often think that the only way to save money is to use the systems less—but what if we told you this isn’t the case? What if we told you, you could use your heater more than you did last year, and save money? Some of the tips we’re about to share cost nothing more than a bit of your time, while others cost a little upfront to save you more later.
Read on as we uncover some ways to use your heater as much as you need to in order to stay comfortable, and pay less doing so!
Use Your Curtains!
You probably think we’re going to tell you to keep your curtains closed to keep the heat in, right? Nope! We want you to open some curtains—specifically, open those that are on south facing windows. This is a fantastic way to bring free heat into your home, and doing so will allow your furnace or heat pump to shut off earlier in the day than it would have otherwise.
Take Advantage of your Ceiling Fans
If you have ceiling fans in your household, use them in the wintertime! Many homeowners don’t know about this tip. But the same ceiling fans you use during the summer to keep cool have a switch near the center that you can use to reverse the direction of the fan blades. When ceiling fans run in reverse, they pull down heat that’s collected at the ceiling, therefore helping your heater to run more efficiently.
Use a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
Setting the right temperature is important in boosting HVAC efficiency. By setting it to cycle on about 10 degrees lower at night when you’re sleeping or when you aren’t home, you could wind up saving hundreds on heater use annually. Take it a step further with a Wi-Fi or Smart thermostat! Smart thermostats actually “learn” from your heating preferences, adjusting accordingly after a couple weeks of use.
Replace Air Filters As Needed
There’s a common misconception that the standard air filter with your furnace or heat pump is there to protect your indoor air quality. It certainly doesn’t hurt your indoor air quality, but that is not its main purpose. It’s actually in place to protect the HVAC system itself from dirt and debris that can infiltrate it and threaten efficiency and effectiveness. The air filter gets clogged up though, so it needs to be replaced every 1-3 months to maintain that heating efficiency.
Keep Your Ducts in Good Shape
Up to 30% of your heated air can actually be leaking into unoccupied spaces such as your attic or behind walls, due to damaged ductwork. Poor installation, high heat in the summer, and even old age can all contribute to tears and pinholes in the ductwork. Contact us about getting your ductwork tested for leakage and following up with sealing, repair, or even duct replacement to keep your furnace or heat pump working as efficiently as possible this winter.
Need expert furnace repair in Puyallup, WA? Contact Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. today! We take your comfort as serious as you do.