Low gas prices and a mild winter can keep your Woodlands-area heating bills down this season, but did you know you could lower winter heating costs even more by making your home more efficient? The tips below will reduce your utility bills not only in winter, but all year long.
Winter Heating Tips
- Install a programmable thermostat. You can actually lower your home heating bills by putting your furnace on a schedule. Program your furnace to lower your heating a few degrees when you’re asleep or away; likewise, raise the thermostat a few degrees in the summer and you can save significantly on utility bills all year long.
- Install ceiling fans with a reversible switch. Switch the blades to run clockwise in the winter and they will push the heat that has risen to the ceiling down to floor level, where the occupants are. Reverse the blades in the other direction in the summer, and the home’s occupants will feel cooler so that you don’t need to lower the thermostat.
- Schedule a fall furnace checkup. An HVAC service checkup will catch potential problems before they turn into costly repairs, saving you money in the long run. Be sure the service person checks the heat exchanger, the burners, the controls and the thermostat for proper operation. Have the air conditioner serviced in the spring.
- Change your air filter regularly. A dirty air filter causes your HVAC system to run inefficiently, raising your bills and potentially damaging your equipment and leading to repair costs. Change inexpensive fiberglass filters once a month; pleated filters rated MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) 8-12 may be used as long as three months. Check them for dirt every few weeks. If you use permanent washable electrostatic filters, clean them as needed.
- Boost insulation levels. Check the insulation levels in the attic. If it’s not above the joists, then you don’t have enough and you should add to it. Attic insulation helps prevent your heated air from migrating into unconditioned spaces.
To learn more about reducing winter heating bills, contact Bradbury Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning of The Woodlands.
