Stay Warmer this Winter While Saving Cold, Hard Cash

Simple things you can do to lower your heating bill right now

Keeping your home warm during colder months is essential for comfort and energy efficiency. With rising utility costs, optimizing your heating system can make a significant difference in your heating bills. Making those improvements does not have to require any big physical changes to your home or buying pricey gadgets on social media.

Here are 7 practical ways you can get the most out of your heating system right now, today.

1. Seal Gaps and Cracks: Hands down, this is one of the easiest and most effective ways to maximize the heat in your home. Cold drafts and gaps around windows, doors, and even walls can let warm air out and cold air in.

Inexpensive and quick solutions are:

• Weather stripping: Apply weather stripping around doors and windows to seal leaks. This self-adhesive option is easy to apply and can notably reduce heat loss and your energy bill.
• Caulking: Use caulk to seal cracks around window frames and in areas where plumbing or electrical wires enter the house.
• Door Sweeps: Install door sweeps at the bottom of doors to block drafts.

2. Use a Programmable Thermostat: A programmable thermostat is a valuable tool for managing your home’s temperature efficiently. By setting your thermostat to lower the temperature when you’re not at home or while you sleep, you can reduce energy usage without sacrificing comfort.

• Set Temperatures Wisely: Keep the temperature a little lower at night and during the day when you’re away. A difference of just a few degrees can add up to big savings.
• Use Zone Heating: If your home has a multi-zone heating system, adjust the temperatures of different rooms to your needs. Heat only the rooms you’re using, rather than heating the entire house.
• Upgrade to Smart Thermostats: Many smart thermostats have sensors that will automatically adjust temperature in a room or home when no activity is detected, along with a range of other energy-efficient features.

3. Utilize Curtains and Blinds: Your windows can be a source of heat loss, but they can also be used to trap warmth inside.

• Open Curtains During the Day: This lets sunlight in to naturally warm your rooms. Sunlight can provide a surprising amount of heat, especially if your windows face south.
• Close Curtains at Night: This will create an insulating layer that keeps heat from escaping through the glass.
• Thermal Curtains: Consider investing in thermal or insulated curtains. These heavy-duty window treatments help keep heat in during the winter and block drafts from seeping through the window.

4. Use Space Heaters Wisely: If you only need heat in a small area, a space heater can be an effective way to concentrate warmth where it’s needed. However, using space heaters efficiently requires some attention.

• Target Key Areas: Use space heaters in rooms you use most often, such as your living room or home office. This can allow you to turn down the central thermostat, saving on overall heating costs.
• Turn Off When Not Needed: This is a critical safety must! Make sure to turn off space heaters when you leave the room or go to bed. They can be a fire hazard if left running unattended.
• Choose Energy-Efficient Models: Look for space heaters with energy-efficient features, like ceramic heating elements or thermostats that allow for automatic shut-off, especially if they are tipped over.

5. Improve Air Circulation: Warm air naturally rises, so without good airflow, the upper parts of your home can become too hot while the lower areas stay cold. Maximizing air circulation can help distribute the heat more evenly.

• Use Ceiling Fans: In the winter, reverse the direction of your ceiling fans so that they push warm air down from the ceiling. Running fans on low speed can help distribute heat without creating a draft.
• Open Interior Doors: Keep interior doors open to allow warm air to flow freely between rooms.
• Use Floor Fans: Place fans near your heating vents to help circulate warm air more evenly throughout the room.
• Clean or Replace Filters: Dirty filters restrict airflow, making it harder for your system to circulate warm air. Replace or clean your filters monthly during the heating season.

6. Utilize Heat Reflectors: Heat reflectors are designed to reflect heat back into the room rather than allowing it to escape through walls or windows. These can be particularly useful in rooms with radiators or space heaters.

• Radiator Reflectors: Place heat reflectors behind radiators to direct heat back into the room. These simple, inexpensive devices can help maximize the heat output of your radiators without increasing energy use.
• Bleed Radiators: If you have radiators, bleed them to remove trapped air. This ensures hot water circulates efficiently through the radiator, providing more heat.
• Reflective Window Films: Install reflective window films that can help reduce heat loss and improve the thermal performance of your windows.

7. Insulate Pipes and Ducts: Pipes and ducts running through unheated areas, like basements or attics, can lose a significant amount of heat. Insulating these areas can help prevent heat from escaping before it reaches the rooms of your house.

• Pipe Insulation: Wrap exposed pipes in foam or fiberglass insulation. This can prevent heat from escaping and also protect pipes from freezing during extreme cold.
• Duct Insulation: Insulating ducts can reduce heat loss from the furnace to various parts of the house, ensuring that warm air travels efficiently throughout the home.

Along with those quick and cost-effective options, there’s another tier of energy saving moves you can make, especially if you are building a new home or renovating your current one.

Upgrade Insulation: Proper insulation helps keep the warmth in during the winter and cool air in during the summer. Most homes are built with some layer of basic insulation, but improving and upgrading the quality can save money on energy bills and extend the life of your heating system.

• Attic Insulation: Insulating your attic is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent heat from escaping through the roof. Optimal thickness is at least 12–14 inches.
• Wall Insulation: If your home lacks sufficient wall insulation, consider adding more or using insulated wall panels.
• Floor Insulation: In colder areas, such as basements, consider adding insulation beneath the floorboards to prevent heat from escaping through the ground.

Alternative Heating Options: If you live in a particularly cold climate or have high heating costs, it might be worth considering alternative heating options that can supplement your main system.

• Wood Stoves or Pellet Stoves: These are more efficient than open fireplaces and can be a cost-effective solution for heating larger spaces.
• Electric Heating Pads: For localized heat, consider using electric heating pads in the beds or seating areas to keep you warm without having to raise the temperature of the entire room.

No matter how you heat your home, your One Hour Heating and Air experts can make a seasonal visit to inspect your heating system and make the best recommendations on how to get the best performance, value, and comfort for years to come. Our professionals are your go-to HVAC team in Charlotte and the surrounding area, including Indian Trail, Concord, and Mooresville.

Visit www.dependaworthyonehour.com for our weekly and monthly specials. Call our 24/7 customer service line today (980) 256-3882.