With rising fuel prices, it is important to keep home heating costs low. Whether your heating system uses natural gas, propane, heating oil or electricity, winter season may consume a huge percentage of your income. Your system must be energy efficient to keep energy bills low. The following tips may help you reduce home heating costs:
Reset Your Thermostat
Turn down your heater’s thermostat setting to a range of 68-70 degrees when you are at home. To reduce your energy costs by 5%, reduce the setting to about 56 degrees or lower when you are asleep or away from home. Be sure to consider your comfort and health when doing the adjustment. To save up to 20%, turn off the heater when you leave home for a long period of time. Consider reducing the heat pump’s temperature by 2 degrees to avoid unnecessary back heat.
Replace Furnace Filters
Your furnace filters needs replacement at least every month or as directed by the manufacturer. Furnace filters accumulate dirt, which prevents smooth air flow thereby increasing energy consumption. Although cleaning is possible, the costs of doing it is considerably expensive. When you replace the filter, be sure to also service the furnace by lubricating, cleaning and performing the necessary adjustments. This will reduce your heating costs by 5%.
Seal up Leaks
You want to keep warm air in your home during winter. Any cold air from outside will cause energy inefficiencies. As a result, your heating systems may have to work extra hard to maintain optimal temperatures. Plug all air leaks found around ducts, windows, doors, conduits, ceiling, bathroom and kitchen sinks. You can do this using silicone or any other 100% crack-free caulking paste. This will save you up to 5% in reduced energy costs.
Service Your Heating System
Be sure to hire a certified air conditioning contractor to service your heater. Ideally, this should be done annually, preferably before the winter season begins. Entering into a servicing contract is the best option as it is considerably cheaper and more convenient. Before signing a contract, you should make sure the contractor is certified by the North American Technical Excellence (NATE).
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