The weather has officially started cooling down and it’s about that time of year where many homeowners are tempted to start cranking their heat. While we all love feeling warm and toasty in our homes during the fall and winter, having your heat running constantly can cause quite an expensive utility bill. There are definitely ways you can keep your home warm without breaking the bank and we’re here to help!
In this blog, we’ll be sharing some inexpensive ways to heat your home more efficiently this season, and no, replacing your windows is not the answer. These tips are fairly simple and some of them don’t even require you to open your wallet.
Keep Your Furniture Away from the Vents
This might seem obvious, but if a vent is blocked by your furniture, the heat will not be able to flow through the room. Not only does this waste money and energy, but it will keep your rooms cold and have you wondering if your heating system is even working. Make sure there are no chairs, sofas, beds, or tables blocking the vents throughout your home.
Adjust Your Thermostat
If you’re the type of person who loves to keep your thermostat set to 72 degrees when the weather is cold, try lowering the temperature by just a few degrees. Even if you put the thermostat to 68 or 70 degrees, it won’t make much of a difference in terms of comfort, but it could significantly reduce your heating bill.
Rotate Your Ceiling Fans
In the summer, you probably had your ceiling fans rotating counterclockwise to circulate air throughout the room. However, when ceiling fans are rotating clockwise, they can push the warm air down to the ground level. Try this simple hack and you might notice a huge difference in the warmth of your home.
Buy a Door Sweep
Dealing with cold air slipping through the bottom of your door is not only a huge waste of money, but it could be the reason your house feels chillier than usual. Door sweeps are rather inexpensive at your local hardware or home improvement store and can save you tons of money on heating. They will also protect against unwanted moisture and insects entering your home.
Replace Your Filter
During the winter, your HVAC system is working extra hard to keep your home comfortable. This means that your filters will be collecting dust, debris, and other indoor contaminants that could be spreading into your home’s air. Checking your filters every 30 days and replacing them every 60 to 90 days will keep your HVAC system running smoothly. A few more benefits of changing your filters regularly are:
- Longer lifespan for your unit
- Better indoor air quality
- Lower costs on utility bills
Open Your Curtains
Even though the temperatures are colder during the fall and winter, the sun is still shining throughout the day. If you tend to keep your curtains or blinds closed, try opening them up and letting the sun beam through your home. The natural sunlight will brighten up your home and give it some extra warmth, all for free!
Schedule Your Seasonal Heating Maintenance
While all these tips and tricks can be helpful, you’re still going to need a properly functioning heating system throughout the season regardless of how many door sweeps you install! Scheduling your seasonal heating maintenance appointment with Carter Comfort Systems is a great way to ensure you and your family will be comfortable in your home all season long. We’ll make sure there are no issues with your system and if there are, we will repair them just in time for the cold weather.
To schedule your HVAC maintenance appointment with us, give us a call at (208) 739-4181 or fill out our online contact form to get started!