In the winter months, your heating system will work hard to help to keep your home warm. Running your heat will cause your utility bills to increase, and you may be shocked at the price. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to help conserve heat this winter.
Maintain Your Heating Unit
One of the best things that you can do to help ensure that your home is warm and conserves heat is to make sure that your HVAC unit is maintained well. You should have a service technician come out before the winter months to service your unit. They will ensure that everything is in running order, and if something needs to be repaired, they can fix it immediately before it becomes a bigger problem. Maintenance packages are very affordable and can help you to ensure that your furnace is working as efficiently as possible.
Keeping Your Furnace Clean
Keeping your furnace clean will help to ensure that it runs efficiently, which will help to conserve heat. At least once a month, you should dust off your furnace with a cloth and inspect the filter. If the filter is dirty, you should replace it immediately. A dirty furnace filter will make the airflow restricted, which in turn will cause your unit to work harder. You will also want to ensure that you clean all the registers to ensure proper airflow.
Have Your Ductwork Inspected and Cleaned
Another step that you can take to ensure that you are conserving heat is to have your ductwork inspected and cleaned. During an inspection, a technician will look at your ductwork to ensure that there are no holes or problems. If there are holes in your ductwork, it will allow the heat to escape. This will also cause your unit to work harder.
After your ductwork is inspected, the technician will begin the cleaning process. Over time, dirt and other debris will build up in the duct, causing restricted airflow. By having this clean, you will ensure that the warm air is moving into your house well.
Look for Drafts
Go throughout your house and look for any areas where you may have a draft. These will be areas where cold air is coming in and the warm air is escaping. Common areas for drafts are around windows and doors. You can fix this by adding weatherstripping.
Use the Sun
On sunny days, open the curtains on all your south-facing windows. This will help to warm your home. Make sure that you close the curtains when the sun goes down or it gets cloudy to keep heat in.
Dress in Layers
Instead of turning up the heat, add a layer of clothing or grab a blanket. Make sure that you have on warm socks and slippers. If you can put on a few layers, this will help you to conserve heat.
Use Ceiling Fans
People do not often think about using ceiling fans in the winter, but they are an integral part of keeping your house warm. Air circulation can help keep your home warm in the winter. When you use your fans in the winter, you will need to make sure that you change the rotation.
All you will need to do is to flip the directional switch. This switch is usually located on the motor of the fan. In the wintertime, ceiling fans will rotate in a clockwise direction. This will draw the room air up towards the ceiling and force the warm air down to the walls. You will want to keep the fan on a low setting.
Do Not Heat Unused Spaces
If you are not using a room, there is no point in heating that room. For example, if you have a storage area or guest room that you are not using, simply reduce the heat going to those rooms by sealing off or closing the vents. Make sure that you close the door as well to ensure the heat only stays in areas where it is needed.
Turn the Thermostat Down at Night
Reducing the temperature setting at night on your thermostat can help you to conserve heat and save money. At night, the temperatures drop, which causes your unit to work harder to maintain the temperature in your house. Lowering the temperature on your thermostat by at least 10 degrees will help you to conserve heat.
You can easily stay warm in your bed by adding blankets or choosing flannel sheet options. At Energy.gov, you will find information that will show you how you can save as much as 10% on your utility bills by simply lowering your thermostat’s temperature at night.
You can also lower the temperature on your thermostat when you are gone during the day or when you are gone on vacation. If you have a manual thermostat, you may want to consider purchasing a programmable one that can be set for multiple settings during the day and night.
Use Supplemental Heat
You can use fireplaces or get a space heater to help heat your home. This can help you to better heat certain areas of your home. For example, if you have a bathroom that stays cold, you may want to consider adding a small space heater and use it when someone is in the bathroom. Your furnace will not have to work hard to heat the room, and whoever is in there will be comfortable.
Refrain From Using Your Exhaust Fan
When you use your exhaust fan, try to only use it for 20 minutes at a time. Your exhaust fan will pull out all the warm air from your home and put it outside. This will lead to a colder-feeling room and your furnace having to kick on to correct the situation.
Make Sure Registers Are Clear
Always check all the registers in your home to make sure that they are clear. If you have kids or pets, it is easy for toys and other things to be put on the vents. When this happens, it blocks airflow from getting in properly. Ensure that there is nothing on these registers, and you will also want to make sure that each register that is supposed to be open is open. Doing this will help to ensure that there is proper airflow to each room.
Improve Insulation
If you have an older home, chances are that it is not insulated well. Go to the walls of your home and feel them. If they feel cooler, there is probably not enough insulation in them. If you have an attic space, you will want to see if it is insulated properly. If not, you can have an insulation company come out and fix the problem for you. The better insulated your home is, the more heat you will conserve.
At BEST Air Conditioning Plumbing Repair, we can help you with all of your heating and air conditioning needs. We offer HVAC maintenance, repair, and installation and plumbing services. Our team proudly serves the Las Vegas area. If you are having any trouble with your furnace, please give us a call today.
