When the cold winter season sets in Nashua, there’s no doubt that the temperatures can get frigid. Relying on your heating system to stay comfortable and safe is an absolute must. However, your heating bills could get out of hand if you’re not careful. Below, we’ll share with you some of our best tips for successfully reducing your heating bills this upcoming winter season.
Get an Annual Tune-Up
One of the best things you can do to reduce your heating bills is to invest in annual maintenance service for your heating system. This service ensures your system operates as efficiently as possible. We recommend getting serviced in the early fall so you can maximize your energy savings throughout the cold season.
Keep Up With Filter Changes
The air filter for your heating system plays an important role in protecting airborne contaminants from getting to the inside of your furnace. Unfortunately, once your air filter becomes clogged with debris, it acts more like a wall than a filtration device. This can cause your heating system to work overtime and consume more energy to heat your home.
We highly recommend checking your heating system’s air filter every month. You can do this by removing it from its housing and holding it up to a light. If you look through the filter and can’t see through it, it’s time for a replacement. We recommend replacing your filter every two to three months as necessary.
Seal Drafts
One of the biggest influencers of the indoor temperature in your home is air drafts. During the winter months, any opening where cold outdoor air can blow into your home will lower your indoor temperature. Air drafts develop most commonly at your doors, windows, and on the exterior walls of your home.
We suggest running your hand over these locations to see if you notice any temperature difference. If you do, it’s necessary to seal air leaks to improve your heating system’s efficiency and indoor comfort. You can use weatherstripping, spray foam, or even caulk to seal these leaks.
Use a Smart Thermostat
One of the best investments you can make to reduce your energy bills is to purchase a smart thermostat. These let you optimize your system’s usage based on your unique schedule. For example, many smart thermostats come with geofencing technology. This technology uses your phone’s GPS location to adjust your temperature settings automatically.
Whenever you leave your home, it will reduce the temperature so that your heating system runs less often. Then it will turn the heat back up when it sees you’re on your way home, ensuring your home is comfortable when you arrive. This is just one of many technologies that smart thermostats offer to optimize your system’s use and reduce your energy bills.
Use Ceiling Fans
One of the best weapons you can use to increase your indoor comfort without driving up your energy bills is a ceiling fan. We suggest installing a ceiling fan in all the major rooms of your home, such as your bedrooms and living room. Have your fan spinning clockwise so it pulls air upward and out. This recirculates the hot air that gets stuck at the top of your room, sending it outward and back down to the floor. By recirculating the hot air from your ceiling fan, you can reduce the time your heating system has to run to keep you comfortable.
Beef Up Your Insulation
One key component of your home that can greatly impact your indoor temperature is the amount of insulation that you have. Insulation acts as a barrier that resists heat transfer between the inside and the outside of your home. During the winter months, it’s necessary to keep the heat inside your home rather than letting it transfer through your walls to the outdoors.
If it’s been a while since you’ve added insulation in your home, you may want to have it inspected to see if it needs upgrading. You can add to existing insulation to increase its thermal resistance to better control the temperature in your home. We recommend meeting the minimum thermal resistance required by your area’s building code.
Get a Whole-Home Humidifier
The winter season is well-known for producing overly dry air. When the air is dry, it doesn’t retain heat for long, which can make you feel uncomfortable. By investing in a whole-home humidification system, you can increase the indoor humidity in your home.
Ideally, you want to set it between 30 and 50% to ensure optimal comfort without encouraging mold or mildew growth. By introducing more humidity into the air, you can feel warmer in your home because the heat stays in the air longer. This will reduce the runtime of your heating system.
Optimize Natural Heat
If you ever stood in front of a window on a cold winter’s day, you’ll notice that the sun can make it feel warmer. You can use this free heat to your advantage to reduce your energy bills. Opt to keep your blinds or curtains open during the day to let the sun into your home. This will provide natural heat to keep your home comfortable without constantly running your heating system.
Consider Sealing Your Ducting
The EPA estimates that homeowners spend up to 30% more than necessary on heating bills due to air leaks in their ductwork. If your ducting is over 10 years old, it’s time to consider cleaning and sealing it. This is where one of our professionals steps in, using specialized tools to inject a resin into your ducting to seal unwanted air leaks. This service can ensure that all the heat that your heating system produces actually makes it to the various rooms throughout your home.
Upgrade Your Outdated Unit
If you want to make a significant dent in your wintertime heating bills, you may want to consider updating your outdated HVAC unit. If your unit is over 15 years old, it’s likely driving up your heating bills more than necessary. Modern-day heating systems are much more efficient than those produced just a decade ago. You can also purchase a high-efficiency heating system to reduce your energy bills further.
Join Our Annual Maintenance Plan
We highly recommend joining our annual maintenance plan to ensure that you never forget to get service for your heating system. Our service plan includes many great benefits, such as priority emergency service and no diagnostic charge. You can enjoy a 15% discount on parts and a complete satisfaction guarantee.
Premier Heater Maintenance Service
Joyce Cooling & Heating Inc. provides premier heater maintenance service for the Nashua, NH area. We can also assist with all your heater repair, replacement, and new installation needs. Just call our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our highly knowledgeable technicians.
