The leaves are changing color, and that latte isn’t enough to stave off the morning cold. It’s winter and as a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to keep the house warm, comfortable, and energy-efficient throughout the winter season.
Luckily, there are several things you can do to make it possible. Here are some of these things as given by HVAC companies:
Do have a programmable thermostat
Using a programmable thermostat, you can preset temperatures for different times of the day. Set higher temperatures when you are in the house and lower temperatures when you aren’t at home.
According to HVAC experts, proper use of programmable thermostats will see you saving up to 20% of your heating bills. Heartwarming, isn’t it?
Other programmable thermostats allow you to set up to four temperatures settings—morning, day, evening, and overnight. If you have the budget, you should even go for high-end models that understand that you have different temperature needs for different days of the week. These allow you to program the thermostat for up to five days.
If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, get one from your local store. You can also order online. When buying the thermostat, ensure it’s of high quality. It also should have a high energy rating.
Regularly inspect the air filters
Furnaces have air filters behind the vent grill. Since the furnace is working too hard during the heating season, it’s common for the air filters to get dirty.
Inspect the filters for any dirt and, if present, replace them. If your HVAC system has a permanent electrostatic filter, wash and reuse it.
Regular inspection and cleaning of air filters not only prevents the furnace from working too hard, but it also prolongs its life.
As you are inspecting and replacing the air filters, also change the humidifier. You also should set the humidistat if your system has it.
Cover the AC condenser
To protect the furnace from falling icicles, you should cover it. One of the best and cheapest items you can use for protection is a large trash can lid. Remember to secure the lid with bungee cords. If you don’t have the trash can, use a board to cover the fan.
You shouldn’t wrap the condenser with a plastic tarp as it will trap the moisture inside. This makes the unit work too hard, which drives up your energy bill.
Clean the heat exchanger
At least once during the heating season, ask an experienced furnace technician to clean the heat exchanger. During the cleaning, the technician should also inspect the unit for cracks that can lead to dangerous carbon monoxide poisoning.
Use the ceiling fans
If you are like other homeowners, you use the ceiling fan to cool the house. Due to this, it might sound absurd to use the fans to heat the house.
Moving the fan blades in the reverse direction warms up the air down near the floor. The fans are more effective in rooms with high ceilings.
All you need to do is to set the fan to the slowest speed, and you will warm up your house at a meager price.
Properly use the space heater
The space heater saves you a lot of money as you don’t have to heat the entire house. While this is the case, you should be cautious about how you use it. As a rule of thumb, don’t use more than one heater in a room.
According to furnace repair services Long Island, you should never leave the furnace unattended. You also shouldn’t put the heater near furniture or drapes as it can easily catch fire.
