You might be thinking ‘Why is my energy bill so high?’ or ‘Why is my house not staying warm?’ ‘Why does my heater keep running so long?’ These are a few questions that might come to mind when considering energy usage when using an HVAC heating system in the winter months.
As we are all well aware, temperatures across the country have been quite cold affecting millions of homes' in the U.S. Some of you may be experiencing abnormally expensive heat bills with lowered temperatures. In this article we’ll discuss some ways you can optimize your heat energy usage to lower your heat bills and increase energy efficiency.
Keep Your House Warm With the Sun
If you have any curtains or blinds in your home, keep them open during the sunlight to allow radiant heat of the sunlight to warm up your home. This prevents the need to keep your heat on full blast during the daytime.
At nighttime keep your blinds and curtains closed to keep the heat from escaping. It is better to have double-paned windows to prevent further heat loss.
Keep Your Thermostat at 68 Degrees
Keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees can prevent your HVAC system from working too hard to maintain heat in your home. If it still feels too cold try to use blankets and sweatshirts to maintain warmth. If it feels like it’s still too cold then work with your local HVAC technician to make sure heat is being distributed properly in your home.
Keep Your Home Well Insulated
If your home is not well insulated it is likely there is heat loss when using heat in your home. Making sure that your home is properly insulated will prevent you from overusing your HVAC heating unit. Your HVAC system should be able to keep your house warm without having to run all the time. Without proper insulation your system could be running constantly just to keep up with lost heat.
Keep Vents, Ductwork, & Filters Clean
If you feel like heat is not being distributed in your home properly and some areas feel cooler than others your ventilation system could need some cleaning. A dirty ventilation system could be filled with debris or obstructions preventing proper airflow.
Make sure to change and clean your filters regularly. This not only helps with maintaining airflow but helps improve air quality.
Your vents should be clean and free from debris. Do not let any furniture or objects block airflow from your vents.
Have your ductwork inspected and serviced by your HVAC technician. Your HVAC technician can see if there is anything blocking airflow and have it cleaned or check for any leaks in the ductwork.
Keep Up With Regular HVAC Servicing & Maintenance
Have your HVAC system regularly serviced and maintained to ensure everything is working. Your HVAC heating system should be checked at least once a year and is typically recommended to do during the fall before the weather gets cold. Although, if your HVAC system is having issues you may need to have it serviced to check if anything is wrong with the unit. If something is wrong your HVAC technician can take care of any needed maintenance.
If you suspect something is wrong with your unit when the cold weather hits there are emergency HVAC services available, but try to avoid waiting till an emergency happens. Not having heat is very dangerous and can put your life at risk.
Having the Right Sized Unit For Your Home
You want to ensure that the unit you have is the right size for your home or space. If your unit is not large enough for the amount of square footage that there is, it may not be able to heat the space up enough. This could cause your unit to run constantly and might signify a need for a larger and more efficient HVAC unit. While you may consider a smaller unit to save costs in the beginning this could cause more costs down the road. An HVAC unit is a large investment so make sure you are getting the one that fits your needs.
Getting a New HVAC Heating Unit
If all else fails and your HVAC system just isn’t running efficiently it might be time for an upgrade. You might be thinking that this is a lot of money, especially with the added cost of inflation. Although, with an inefficient HVAC system you could be spending thousands of dollars more in maintenance for expensive parts that need replacement. A new HVAC system could not only heat your home more efficiently it can save costs on your monthly heating bill. Instead of wasting your money on an old inefficient HVAC unit, get a new one that will save you money and keep your home warm in the winter. If you are concerned about the cost of a new unit don’t worry. Air-Mart AC & Heating offers financing options to help break down the installation cost in smaller payments. If Air-Mart is not local to you there are loan options available at your local bank that can help with the cost.
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