Summer has waned and winter is almost upon us. Soon you’ll be running the furnace again, and you know what that means. Energy bills are about to go through the roof. It happens every fall and it’s a pain in the neck, but those high energy bills are necessary if you want to keep your house warm and comfortable, right? Not at all. There are plenty of ways to reduce your energy use this heating season without reducing your comfort. Here are just a few fall and winter energy-saving tips to lower your energy bills.
Maintenance
Foremost on our list of fall and winter energy-saving tips is basic HVAC maintenance. It’s important to make sure your system is performing as efficiently as possible. Fall is the time to have an annual furnace inspection to ensure the system is running properly in preparation for the coming heating season. Your HVAC technician will check the furnace’s parts and components and fix or replace the ones that aren’t working. They’ll make sure the thermostat is functioning the way it should and that it’s turned to the best setting to keep you comfortable without wasting energy.
Another important maintenance issue that your HVAC technician can help you with is ensuring proper airflow. The less air that’s able to make it from the furnace into your house, the longer the system has to run in order to heat your home to its ideal temperature and the more energy you waste. One of the biggest impediments of airflow is ductwork leakage. You or your HVAC technician should check ducts thoroughly for holes, tears, gaps and other damage that results in wasteful leakage. Fix these leaks with metal tape or mastic sealant.
Airflow can also be impeded by the air filter. If the air filter becomes clogged, air can’t pass through it, thus forcing the furnace to work harder to heat your home. To prevent this, check the air filter every month and replace it at least every three months to keep indoor air clean and the airflow at the right level.
General Tips
The HVAC system itself isn’t the only factor in reducing your energy bills this season. Here are a few other fall and winter energy-saving tips that you can do around the house.
- Windows – Use windows to let the sunlight in and heat your home naturally. Keep the curtains open on the south-facing windows in your home during the day to warm your home naturally without relying on the furnace.
- Insulation – One of the most important fall and winter energy-saving tips is making sure your home is properly insulated. Hot air rises, so the best place for insulation is in the attic. It reduces heat loss by slowing the flow of heat and keeping it in your home longer.
- Programmable thermostat – A programmable thermostat lets you create multiple temperature settings to heat your home only as needed. When everyone’s at home, it heats the house to your desired comfort setting. But when Mom and Dad are at work and the kids are at school, it can be programmed to switch automatically to a temperature 10 to 15 degrees cooler to save energy while no one’s home.
- Energy-efficient bulbs – In addition to getting colder, it also stays dark longer. This means your lights will be staying on longer, using more energy. Replace any incandescent bulbs with CFL (fluorescent) or LED bulbs, which provide the same amount of light for far less energy, plus they have a longer life. For the outside, halogen lamps work best, along with motion sensors that give you light when you need it without staying lit all night.
If you really want to save energy this heating season, though, you might want to consider upgrading your HVAC system to a more energy-efficient model, particularly if your current system is 10 years old or more. Furnaces tend to lose efficiency over time. Plus, energy efficiency standards have improved considerably over the years. A new, Energy Star-certified furnace could greatly reduce your energy use, while keeping you warm and comfortable all season long.
For more fall and winter energy-saving tips, contact our experts at James Lane Air Conditioning & Plumbing Co.
