As the days grow shorter and the temperatures get lower, the question of how to go about saving energy in the winter becomes the foremost concern on most homeowners’ minds. And yet, many of us still end up using much more energy than we need to.
In previous articles, we gave you some pointers on how to prepare your furnace for winter and answered the age-old question of whether covering an AC unit is a good idea during the colder months of the year.
Now we’ll expand on the topic of winter preparation by providing you with 3 tried-and-true ways to reduce the amount of energy you spend on heating. Keep reading to learn more.
Why did I get a high energy bill?
If you recently received a surprisingly steep heating bill despite not having heated your home any more than you usually do, there’s a possibility your HVAC system is to blame.
Here’s what can cause an unusually high heat bill:
- Damaged or inefficient insulation
- Old or malfunctioning furnace
- Problem with the HVAC heat pump
- Old or improperly installed windows
- Broken thermostat (or it may have been running on high settings)
- Leaky HVAC ducts
How can I be more energy efficient in the winter?
Keeping draughts to a minimum is the single most important thing you can do to save energy and keep your place cozy. Any gaps in your windows and doors that are letting warm air out and cold air in should be covered with draught excluders (weather sealants, insulating strips, etc.).
Likewise, if you have cracks and gaps in your floors, you should treat them with a silicone-based sealant that’s designed for draught-proofing.
Here are 3 more ways to reduce energy expenditures during winter:
1. Shut the doors
Keeping interior doors closed at all times will “trap” heat inside individual areas. This way, your HVAC system will have to work less hard to keep each room cozy, and you won’t waste energy heating up hallways and other less important parts of your house.
2. Don’t set the thermostat too high
Simply turning down your thermostat by 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours every day can shave 10% off of your yearly heating and cooling bills. During the colder seasons, set your thermostat to 68 degrees while you’re at home, and set it lower while you’re asleep or outside.
If these temperatures sound unpleasant to you, there’s a significant chance you’re not wearing the right clothes. Wearing a soft bathrobe and some nice slippers is a great way to keep yourself both cozy and comfortable while you’re at home.
3. Make better use of your oven
Ovens heat up all the shelves regardless of whether you’re actually cooking anything on them or not. A great way to make use of this extra energy is to prepare more than one meal at a time. This has the added benefit of saving you time.
Furthermore, after you’re done cooking, leave the oven door open and let all that sweet warmth make its way into your home.
Reliable HVAC services are key to saving energy in the winter
When it comes to effective energy saving during the winter, nothing beats having a modern, well-maintained HVAC system. After all, keeping your heating bills reasonable simply isn’t possible if your old or faulty furnace is drawing ridiculous amounts of energy just to keep your house semi-warm.
The good news is, Hughes AIr is a first-rate HVAC contractor in Chandler that can keep your HVAC system running at peak performance or replace it with a cutting-edge alternative. Call us today and enjoy a fun day at the Chandler Tennis Center while we make your HVAC-related problems disappear.