When the holidays are over and the New Year begins, we tend to look at our bank accounts and balk at how little is actually in them. Plus, tax time is coming! With the long winter ahead, you’re likely thinking the same thing many other homeowners in our area are, “how can I save money with my furnace this season?”
One method of doing so has to do with your heating system. No, we aren’t going to tell you to stop using it as much! We don’t want you to be uncomfortable—but we also don’t want you to sacrifice your budget to keep you and your family warm.
Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to boost your heating efficiency so that you’re paying less for more comfort. We’ve outlined some methods below!
Open Your Curtains!
When winter hits and is at its coldest, you probably do anything you can to retain the heat coming from your furnace inside your home. You might close your curtains, thinking this will help keep some of the heat in.
But actually, opening your curtains on south-facing windows brings the natural warmth from sunlight in and increases the temperature of the room. Therefore, you may be able to reach the desired temperature on your furnace’s thermostat faster, so it won’t run as long.
Use Your Ceiling Fans
Did you know that you could use your ceiling fans in the winter to boost heating efficiency? There is a button near the center of the fan that reverses the direction the fan blades move in. When switched, they can help pull hot air down, meaning that you can turn your thermostat down a bit since you’ll feel warmer.
Program Your Thermostat
Setting the right temperature is important for HVAC efficiency. Just by lowering the temperature of your heater by 10-15 degrees when you aren’t home or at night when you’re sleeping, you can save hundreds on your annual heating costs. A programmable thermostat allows you to create a heating program based around your own personal schedule.
Check and Replace Your Air Filters
If your furnace’s air filter gets too clogged up with dust and debris, airflow into the furnace is restricted, causing your system to work harder than it should have to, in order to circulate warm air throughout your living space. Changing the air filter every 1-3 months is an effective way to maintain optimal heating efficiency.
Make Sure Your Ducts are in Good Shape
Were you aware that up to 30% of the warm air you’re paying for can escape through damaged ductwork? This is another problem that will cause your furnace to work harder, therefore decreasing system efficiency.
And no, you can’t just grab a roll of duct tape and call it a day—professional duct sealing is the only way to effectively seal your ducts. Store-bought duct tape actually isn’t appropriately named, and won’t adequately help you repair your ducts.
When you need reliable Arvada, CO furnace repair, look no further than Aurora Plumbing Company. We have someone in your neighborhood today!
