Surprising Ways to Save Money on Your Heating Bill

You rely on your heating system to keep you warm, but you know it can also cost you a lot. The U.S. Department of Energy claims that heating and cooling your home can take up as much as half of your energy expenses. With these tips, you can save money on your heating bill without having to spend big bucks on new equipment.

Get Regular Maintenance

Your furnace is designed to last you about 15 years or so. It may continue to work much longer if you take good care of it. Maintenance is the key to having a system that keeps up with your heating needs from year to year. This includes checking and cleaning or replacing your furnace air filters at least a few times a year, or as needed. Clean filters help to block particulates from passing the filter, which decreases your indoor air quality and makes your furnace run less efficiently. At least once a year, you should also request HVAC service. Your technician can inspect and run tests on your system to make sure everything is working well.

Go Energy Efficient

There are two factors at work that make your home cooler than it should be: the function of your heating system, and the heat that is lost throughout your home. Heat loss is the process of heat escaping out of the home. Your ductwork is a primary source of this loss, and the efficiency of your insulation and windows is another significant contributing factor. If your ductwork has leaks, you may lose as much as 40 percent of your furnace’s heating capacity before it reaches the designated rooms. Similarly, if your windows or insulation are full of leaks, they send your heated air outside before you get to enjoy it. Sealing all leaks keeps the heat where it belongs for a longer period of time, which takes some of the pressure off your heating system and lowers your energy consumption.

Consider Other Forms of Heat

The simplest way to save money is to change the way you think about heating your home. You want your home to be warm, but it does not need to be sweltering. You should also remember that you have many ways to keep warm without having to use your HVAC system. Consider planning to run your clothes dryer or your kitchen oven during cold nights or mornings, as a way to get chores done while you warm up your house. If all else fails, wear a sweater or get cozy under a blanket. You may feel more comfortable turning down the heat a few degrees as a result.

Saving money on your energy bills should not mean that you have to suffer in cold during the winter. By maintaining your furnace, sealing leaks throughout your home and making other wise decisions about heating, you stay warm while you cut back on your expenses. To learn more about lowering your HVAC energy usage in Sacramento, do not hesitate to contact us at Ace Plumbing.