When the cold winter weather arrives in Peoria, AZ, homeowners rely on their heating system to stay nice and warm. No matter what type of heating system you have, it’s going to come along with monthly heating bills. To help ensure that you’re getting the maximal efficiency out of your heating system to keep your heating bills in check, implement the tips that we’ll cover below.
Use Ceiling Fans
One of the best ways to help increase the overall efficient operation of your heating system is to use ceiling fans throughout your home. Ideally, you should have a ceiling fan in each of your main rooms, including your living room and bedroom.
In winter, be sure to set your ceiling fan to spin clockwise so that it forces air up by the ceiling outward and back down to the floor. This recirculation of warm air helps to keep you comfortable without having to turn up the thermostat on your heating system too much.
Get a Whole-Home Humidifier
Another lesser-known tactic for increasing the efficiency of your system is to use a whole-home humidifier during the winter months. This helps to introduce more moisture into the air throughout your home. Heat will remain in the air longer when there is water to hold it there.
This is why it can feel so hot when humidity levels are extremely high. With a whole-home humidifier, you can set your indoor relative humidity level to anywhere between 30% and 50% to help optimize heating efficiency without suffering the negative effects of high indoor humidity.
Increase Your Insulation
Insulation is a key factor in the operating efficiency of your heating system. When your home is properly insulated, it will be highly resistant to outside temperatures. However, if your home lacks adequate insulation, the outside air can seep in and cause your heating system to run longer to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.
You need to check your home to determine if the level of insulation you have meets or exceeds the value that is recommended for your area. If any areas of insulation are missing in your attic, be sure to fill those in for maximal temperature resistance.
Seal Off Air Leaks
Another big contributor to decreased efficiency for your heating system is air leaks. These can develop on all your exterior walls over time. They are most notable around window and door frames but can develop by your light and outlet switches, too.
You can determine where you have air leaks in your home by running your hand around these areas to check for any change in temperature. It’s best to seal up known air leaks with caulking, spray foam, or weather stripping. By eliminating these air leaks, you can prevent cold air from seeping into your home and allow the indoor temperature to remain consistent and comfortable.
Professional HVAC Maintenance Service
One of the best ways to ensure that your heating system is functioning as optimally as possible is to invest in regular maintenance from a professional. Our experienced team will clean all your system’s internal components and test everything to ensure that it’s working appropriately. We will repair any potential issues and greatly reduce your risk of experiencing a breakdown. Maintenance may not be free, but it will cost less than getting a furnace repair when something actually breaks due to a poorly-tuned system.
Program Your Thermostat
If you don’t have a smart or programmable thermostat, it’s high time to invest in one. A programmable thermostat can allow you to set varying temperatures depending on the time and day of the week. This can allow you to turn down the temperature at times when you know you’re not going to be home to save money on your heating bills.
For added convenience, you might want to consider investing in a smart thermostat that allows you more control over your system. Some smart thermostats can even make recommendations on how to be more efficient with your energy usage.
Keep Up With Filter Changes
The filter inside your heating system is responsible for trapping unwanted particulate matter before it enters the internal components of your furnace. Over time, the filter will become full of debris and need to be replaced. Replacing your air filter is a simple task. Be sure to check the state of your air filter at least once a month and replace it whenever necessary. Most homeowners will find that they need to swap out filters every two to three months.
Consider Duct Sealing Service
If your heating system relies on ductwork to deliver warm air throughout your home, then it can have a tremendous impact on your indoor air temperature. Over time, the joints in your ducting can start to open and allow warm air to seep out. When this air seeps out, there’s less warm air to deliver to the rooms in your home. This causes your heating system to overwork to try and produce enough heat to adequately warm your home. Duct sealing can be a great investment to do away with those air leaks in your ducting so that more warm air can make its way to the various rooms in your home.
Make Sure Your Air Vents Are Clear
For your heating system to work optimally, all the air vents in your home need to be completely open. If any of your vents are closed, it can restrict the pressure inside your ducting and cause inefficiency in air delivery. Additionally, if there are any obstructions in front of your air vents, it can also lead to system inefficiency. It’s best to check each one of your supply vents and return vents to ensure that they are completely open and have at least 3 feet of open space around them.
Let the Sunlight In
One of the most effective ways to help heat up your home without spending more money is opening your blinds and curtains. Allowing direct sunlight to penetrate your home can heat up various rooms. In some cases, direct sunlight has been shown to heat up a room by over 10 degrees. For each degree that natural sunlight heats up your home during daytime hours, the less your heating system must run. This allows you to save more money on your wintertime heating bills.
Upgrade Your System
If your current heating system is over 10 years old, you may want to think about upgrading it. Systems manufactured today are much more efficient than those produced just a decade ago. This means you can reap the benefits of lower energy bills when upgrading to a new heating system. Plus, you can choose between standard and high-efficiency models depending on your individual preference.
Reliable Heating Maintenance Service
Cool Zone Air Conditioning & Heating offers reliable heating maintenance service to Peoria, AZ and the surrounding communities. We can help with all your air conditioning, heating, ductwork, and commercial HVAC needs. This includes heat pumps and ductless air conditioning. We can also help you address your indoor air quality by performing an assessment and installing whole-house purification equipment.
Call us at Cool Zone Air Conditioning & Heating today to book your next appointment.
