You don’t have to deal with a frigid home just to keep your wintertime utility bills low. Fortunately, you can take several easy steps to lower heating bills while staying warm and cozy.
Lower Your Thermostat
Heat loss occurs more slowly when you lower the temperature in your home, according to the Department of Energy. Lower the temperature to 68 degrees Fahrenheit and even a few degrees lower at night to let your heating system work less.
Install a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
Programmable thermostats allow you to optimize furnace operation. You can program the thermostat to lower the temperature while sleeping or away from home. Smart thermostats have the added capability of learning from your patterns to help save even more. ENERGY STAR-certified thermostats provide roughly an 8% savings on utility costs, translating to about $50 per year for the average home. These devices allow you to save on utility bills without sacrificing comfort.
Take Advantage of Natural Heat
Let the sunlight heat your home during the daytime by opening blinds and curtains. Similarly, close window treatments at night to keep your heat in. Install thermal-lined curtains to help with this easy task.
Lower Your Water Heater Temperature
This tip can help save money all year, as your water heater may waste more energy than you realize, especially if you have an older model. The temperature doesn’t need to be 140 degrees Fahrenheit. A setting of 120 degrees provides sufficient hot water for most homes.
By lowering the setting by 20 degrees, you can decrease energy usage by as much as 22% per year. Add a water heat blanket around the tank if you have a traditional model to keep even more heat in.
Check Home Insulation
Adequate insulation can reduce your heating bill in winter, especially if you have an older home. Additional insulation around walls and electrical outlets, where utilities enter your home and around plumbing, will also make a difference.
Schedule an Annual Heating System Tune-Up
Having professional HVAC technicians perform an annual inspection on your system will significantly reduce your winter energy bills. When an HVAC technician performs annual maintenance, your system will receive a thorough cleaning and tightening of all connections.
Dirty parts can decrease efficiency by making the system work harder to circulate warm air. Regular maintenance will increase your system’s lifespan and catch minor problems before they become expensive issues. You can easily recoup your annual maintenance money through lower utility bills and extended system life.
Contact Hay Camp Mechanical today to schedule heating installation in Rapid City, SD.