During the winter, a constantly running furnace can result in a high heating bill. While you will never be able to cut your bill down to zero, there are a few things that you can do to reduce your bill.
By improving the insulation of your home and altering your habits slightly, you can reduce your energy usage. Beyond saving you money each month, this also helps reduce the environmental impact of your home.
How to Reduce Your Heating Bill
Most heating and air systems are combined. This means that the following tips can help you reduce your heating bills in the winter, but may also reduce utility costs in the summer.
Use Ceiling Fans Appropriately
Your ceiling fans are for more than cooling down in the summer. They improve air circulation and can distribute heat, which rises, better throughout your home.
Just make sure that they are turning clockwise, which will push air downwards. If you have them spinning the other way, they can pull air and heat away from your floor, making the room colder.
Programmable Thermostats
Another easy way to save money on your heating bill without actually affecting your comfort levels during the day is by installing a programmable thermostat. These thermostats can have a schedule put into them. This allows your furnace to turn on and off at certain points of the day.
You can set it so that your furnace is not on while you are sleeping or while you are at work, but instead kicks in shortly before you wake up or get home. Many smart thermostats have apps that allow you to change
Maintenance
An often overlooked way to boost the efficiency of your furnace is by doing some regular maintenance. Something as simple as replacing the air filter, or having the vents and ducts cleaned, can help improve airflow.
Improved airflow lets heat circulate throughout your home. Your furnace will not have to operate for as long to warm up your home, and your heating bill will be slashed. Talk to a heating professional about inspecting and maintaining your system, and be sure to set up a schedule to have your furnace checked on a regular basis.
Insulation Inspections
In a similar vein to the above point, you should talk to a contractor about inspecting the state of your home’s insulation. This applies especially if you have experienced water damage in the recent past. Insulation that is old or waterlogged can clump up, and allow heat to escape your home.
A professional inspection can find areas where heat is leaking out. This lets you install new insulation which can reduce your heating bill and prevent drafts and cold spots from developing.
Reducing Your Heating Bills Requires Multiple Steps
While any of the above tips can help reduce your heating bill in the winter, for best results you should implement as many of them as you can.
For even more information about maintaining your furnace and HVAC system, check out the HVAC section of our blog.
