Everyone wants to save a little money, right? With many folks still out of work and government stimulus’s not doing a lot to help, you may consider other methods of saving a penny, like reducing your energy bills!
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Nobody likes paying bills. If you could reduce your energy bills by 20% or more, would you do it?
Here are 10 ways to help you cut those energy costs this winter.
Tips to Reduce your Energy Bills
1. Turn off the heat
Running the furnace is probably the greatest expense on your energy bill during the winter. Conversely, running the A/C is likely the most expensive in the summer.
Many people are aware that running the A/C when you’re not home is a bad idea, but then think nothing of running their furnace all day.
The easiest way to save money is to turn off your furnace when you’re not home or asleep. And I mean completely off.
That might mean that the house is cold when you wake up or when you get home, but there are alternatives to avoid this, like using a smart thermostat.
2. Use a smart thermostat
Smart thermostats allow you to set schedules of when heat (and A/C) should or should not be on automatically.
For instance, if your house is always empty from 7 AM to 4 PM because of work, then you can automatically program the thermostat to turn the heat off at 7 AM and turn back on at 3:45 PM so the house has warmed up by the time you get home.
By the same respect, you can set it to turn off or at least significantly reduce the heat while you asleep. Then program it to turn off just before your alarm goes off so you can get ready for the day in a warm house.
3. Turn down the heat
While the previous tips were about how to operate the heat when you’re not home, this tip is for operation while you’re present.
Turning the heat down just 1 or 2 degrees can go a long way into helping reduce your energy bills while giving you minimal difference in comfort level.
The lower you can set the thermostat, the more savings you’ll experience.
4. Try alternatives to heat
One way that you can help become more comfortable with lower temperatures in the home is by using heat alternatives.
We’re talking about wear pajama pants instead of shorts, or getting a thick winter blanket for cozying under on the couch.
Something very prevalent in England that is still used in America, but not as much, are electric blankets. You can use these to warm up your bed before you got to sleep so that you’re not slipping into freezing sheets.
5. Change your air filter
Changing your air filter is a simple, yet often overlooked way to reduce your energy bills.
Clean filters not only mean purer air for your home, it also helps the air flow more efficiently, resulting in a faster heating process, fewer breakdowns, and lower energy bills.
Regular preventative maintenance on your system keeps your furnace running at optimum efficiency. Give us a call if you’d like to schedule an appointment for service.
6. Seal your windows and doors
Heat escapes in all sorts of places. Gaps under doors, cracks in the windowsill, etc.
You’re hard earned cash is being spent on heating your home, don’t let a simple oversight flush that money down the drain.
To make sure the maximum amount of heat stays in your home instead of outside of it, focus on some basic home repairs this winter, like sealing your windows.
7. Open/close your curtains
When it’s sunny outside, open the curtains and let the sun warm your house.
But as soon as it sets or if you live in an area with a lot of overcast, keep those curtains closed.
Cold windows leach heat from the room, but by placing the cloth barrier between them and the hot air in your home, you’re more likely to keep that heat inside where it counts.
8. Get your ducting fixed
Your ductwork transfers hot air from the furnace to the rest of your house, but ducts are just big pipes. And just like your plumbing, ducting can “spring a leak.”
Holes or deteriorated portions of your ductwork means that the air you’re paying heat is leaking out into the attic or walls and escaping the home.
This also results in your home taking longer to heat and increasing the amount of time needed to reach your desired temperature.
If you suspect that your ducting is damaged or has a leak, give us a call and our comfort advisor will inspect your ducting and provide a free estimate for repair or replacement.
9. Avoid electric space heaters
While space heaters are great for immediate heat, or to warm only a single individual, they run on electricity.
Electricity is far more expensive than natural gas. If you follow the steps above, like using a smart thermostat or investing in a good blanket, you’ll be able to enjoy a warm house without the need for these expensive products.
10. Leave your vents open in unused rooms
This tip for reducing your energy bills might be a little counter-intuitive.
Most people think that if there are rooms in your house that are unused, you should close the vents and it will heat up your house faster. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The warmth of your house is controlled, not by the temperature in the whole house, but the air temperature around the thermostat. Whether that guest room is hot or cold won’t affect your overall energy consumption.
Closing the vents could also potentially damage your system. When your furnace was installed, the power level was selected to heat your whole home.
By closing vents, you’ll depressurize your vents, affecting air flow that can increase the rate at which your furnace loses efficiency. Lost efficiency results in a furnace that takes longer to heat your home, costing you more on your energy bills.
So as hard as it is to resist closing those vents, you and your wallet are better left leaving them open.
Need help with your furnace?
If you’re tried everything listed above and nothing seems to be reducing your energy bills, it’s possible your furnace needs repaired or replaced.
Give Precision Temperature a call today at 619-588-5321.
We service all of San Diego County and are standing by to help.
