After weeks of cold winter weather, your heating bill may be a painful sight to see when it arrives. Saving money while keeping your home warm and cozy for your family can be difficult in the dead of January and February, but it’s not impossible!
As HVAC experts, we have a few tips and tricks to help you save money on your heating bill throughout the colder months.
Have Your Furnace Inspected
Before the worst of winter hits, you should schedule a routine inspection of your furnace to ensure it’s working properly. Regular maintenance and small repairs will save you money in the long run by preventing breakdowns or more serious issues with your heating system.
At Wyckoff, we offer a Peace of Mind Service Plan, which includes visits to your home in the spring and fall to perform two preseason maintenance inspections of your furnace and air conditioner. With this plan, you can have peace of mind that your HVAC system will run well each season.
Seal Air Leaks
If your heating bill is often super high, it may be because your home has spots where the warm air is escaping and cold air is seeping through. This will make your furnace work double-time to maintain the temperature you have set.
Go around your home and seal any drafts around windows, doors, and other openings with weather stripping and caulk. You’ll also want to make sure your home’s overall insulation is working well. As a general rule of thumb, if your home was built before 1980, it’s more likely to need an upgrade. One way to know it’s time for an insulation upgrade is if snow melts quickly off your roof and creates lots of icicles.
Cover Your Windows
If your windows are old, warped, and on the verge of replacement, covering them with thermal curtains can help block out cold air. Floor-length window coverings are a great budget-friendly solution to stop warm air from escaping your home without having to schedule and pay for a window replacement right before the height of winter weather.
Adjust the Temperature
Lowering your thermostat by a few degrees can add up to big savings over time. Turn your heat down at night, while you’re at work, or when you’re on vacation. You’ll want to leave your heat on so your pipes don’t freeze and burst, but set it at the lowest possible setting whenever you can.
Investing in a smart thermostat that will automatically adjust the temperature depending on a set schedule can remove the hassle of constantly changing the thermostat yourself.
Use a Humidifier
Running a humidifier might help keep you warm without raising your heating bill quite so dramatically. Moist air feels warmer than dry air, so you can keep your thermostat on a lower setting when you run a humidifier. Bonus: This will also reduce static electricity and work to combat dry skin.
Take Advantage of Sunlight
During the day when it’s nice and sunny, open your blinds and curtains to let sunlight and warmth in. You’ll notice a huge difference in the temperature of your home thanks to the UV rays, especially if it’s during a time you have the thermostat turned down to save a bit more money on your heating bill.
But, don’t forget to draw the blinds at night to help insulate your home from the colder evening air.
Don’t Block Air Flow
Furniture and other items can get in the way of your radiator or vents and block the flow of air, making it difficult for the warm air to circulate throughout your home. Check that the air is able to flow easily by moving things out of the way, and be sure that your radiator and vents are also clean and free of debris so they’re able to work at full capacity.
Call Wyckoff Heating and Cooling for More Tips
Using our professional tips and guidance, you should be able to effectively lower your heating bill and increase your energy efficiency in your home. But when simple tricks don’t cut it and you need major repairs or replacements, schedule your service with Wycoff!
It’s better to stay on top of your heating and cooling needs than be left shivering and losing money this winter. Give us a call today!