Enjoy Lower Heating Bills This Winter with These Helpful Tips
Winter is right around the corner, and while most of us look forward to winter holidays and ice skating, just about everyone dreads increased utility bills. Keeping your home at a consistent and comfortable temperature throughout the winter is likely to eat into your wallet—but it doesn’t have to. In fact, there are numerous ways you can cut down on your energy consumption this winter, saving you money in the process. Read ahead to learn how you can enjoy lower heating bills this winter.
Buy a programmable thermostat
New thermostats are inexpensive and are an easy way to save money. Most come with preprogramed settings that enable you to control your energy consumption even when you are sleeping or not at home. The best approach is to let the indoor temperature decrease when you know you are at work. You might also try this for a few hours when you are sleeping. When taken together, this can mean upwards of 10 hours per day of lower utility usage.
Invest in inspection and maintenance
Maintain your HVAC system and address problems before it’s too late by getting heating repair in St. Louis, MO. It is important to do yearly maintenance checkups of both your heating and cooling systems. Contractors tend to be busiest in the summer and winter, so have your cooling system checked in the spring and your heating system checked in the fall.
During a maintenance checkup, a contractor will tighten electrical connections, check thermostat settings, lubricate moving parts, check system controls and much more. By calling ahead for maintenance and inspection, you can ensure your heating unit is running as efficiently as possible and will not break during winter.
Replace air filters
A dirty air filter increases energy costs by slowing down airflow and making your HVAC system work harder. Over time, a dirty air filter can also cause dust and dirt to build up in the system, leading to early system failure and the need for expensive repairs. Inspect your HVAC system’s air filters once a month, or at least once every three months, and replace them if necessary. Any contractor who offers heating repair in St. Louis, MO will tell you that one of the main reasons for high energy costs is dirty filters.
Prioritize energy efficiency
Is your HVAC system performing efficiently? If it is wasting energy or no longer keeping your home comfortable, consider replacing it with the latest energy efficient equipment. By replacing your old HVAC system with new energy efficient equipment, you can significantly reduce your monthly heating and cooling bills. This is a particularly good option if your current equipment is old and beginning to show signs of needing replacement anyway.
Make sure you have adequate insulation
Proper heating equipment can only go so far. It is important as well to keep the warm air in, and the cold air out. Windows and insulation are the only way to address this problem. Check before winter to ensure that everything is well insulated, and consider making repairs if there are areas that allow air to escape.
Contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling for all of your HVAC needs. Whether you need heating maintenance or heating repair in St. Louis, MO, now is the time to act. Call us today to prepare for the winter season!