As the winter season approaches, keeping your home warm for your family will become one of your top priorities. However, using energy to heat your home doesn’t come for free, and sometimes the cost of running your central heating system will take a large toll on your budget. You don’t have the option to simply leave the heater off—not with our winters—but you do have ways to cut down on those high utility bills.
In this post, we’ll explore practical tips to make your winter heating more cost-effective, with a special focus on the valuable assistance our heating services in Ellensburg, WA can provide. We’re your home comfort hero, ready to make your winter both warm and budget-friendly!
Remember, Maintenance Is Key!
Before we dive into several cost-saving strategies, we’ll put a highlight on the best way to control heating costs. Whether you have a furnace, heat pump, or another type of heating system, scheduling regular maintenance with professionals is key to ensuring the heater works at peak efficiency.
Without routine maintenance, you can expect your heater to lose around 5% of its energy efficiency annually, and that will lead to costs that quickly rack up. If you haven’t scheduled maintenance yet this year, it’s not too late: call us and ask about Kevin’s Club Maintenance Membership.
Energy-Efficient Practices
Programmable Thermostats: Investing in a programmable thermostat can make a big change in your heating costs. These devices allow you to set specific temperatures for different times of the day, ensuring that your heating system operates efficiently when needed and conserves energy when not in use.
Proper Insulation: Heat loss through inadequate insulation is a common cause of energy waste during winter. Check your home for proper insulation and always take steps like caulking windows and putting in weatherstripping around doors. These simple steps can significantly reduce your heating costs.
HVAC Professional Services
Regular Maintenance: We already mentioned this above, but it bears repeating. Not only does maintenance stop a decline in energy efficiency, it also lowers the chance of malfunctions and breakdowns, extends the service life of the heater, and keeps the heater operating safely.
Upgrading to Energy-Efficient Systems: Consider upgrading to modern, energy-efficient heating systems, especially if your heater is more than 15–20 years old. While there’s an upfront cost, the long-term savings on energy bills make this a worthwhile investment. Reach out to us for assistance when it comes to finding an energy-efficient replacement for your older heating system.
Winter Heating Tips
Dress Warmly Indoors: One of the easiest ways to cut down on heating costs is to layer up when you’re indoors. Layering clothing and using blankets can help you stay comfortable without cranking up the thermostat.
Lower the Thermostat: We don’t mean to drop the thermostat to a level that’s miserably cold, but rather to look at your normal settings and then see how much you can lower them while still feeling comfortable. A recommended target for energy savings is 68°F during the day when people are home, with a setback temperature of 8°–10° at night or when the house is empty.
Call ThermAll Heating & Cooling, Inc: We are “Your Home Comfort Hero!”