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The lower the temperatures drop outside, the more you think about staying warm indoors this winter season. There is only so much your heater can do against the coldest temperatures of the year, but we have some tips to help. Keep reading to learn ways you can boost heating system efficiency without breaking the bank.
Staying warm doesn’t have to mean making sacrifices in other areas of your budget this holiday season. With these tips, you may even have extra room in your budget to spend more on the holidays or put some money away for a rainy day.
What Are the Most Important Heat Pump Maintenance Tips to Improve Efficiency?
Regular heat pump maintenance keeps your system running efficiently, lowers energy costs, and extends its lifespan. To boost heating performance, homeowners should:
- Replace or clean air filters regularly to maintain proper airflow
- Keep the outdoor unit clear of leaves, dirt, and debris
- Make sure indoor vents and registers are unobstructed
- Check thermostat settings for accuracy and efficiency
- Schedule annual professional maintenance to inspect components and refrigerant levels
Optimize Thermostat Settings to Improve Heating Efficiency
Your first step is to check the thermostat settings. Ideally, you don’t want to set your thermostat any higher than 68°F for heating in the winter. And honestly, on the absolute coldest days of the year, you should probably set your thermostat a little lower. If you have below-freezing temperatures, your heater may not be able to heat your home to 68°F.
However, there is a balance between saving money and keeping your home safe. You shouldn’t set your thermostat any lower than 50°F for heating at any time. This is because some heat does help to protect things like your pipes from freezing as temperatures drop. Plus, the lower the temperature reaches inside, the harder it is for your heater to increase the temperature again when you do turn the system back on.
Improve Home Insulation to Reduce Heat Loss
Next, you want to make sure that the heat is staying inside your home. Our team can check your attic insulation to make sure it is adequate. It’s normal for insulation to deteriorate over the years. Replacing it with new insulation is a wonderful way to ensure that heat stays inside your home instead of rising up and out of your roof.
Seal Doors and Windows to Prevent Heat Loss
You also want to check window seals and doors to make sure that heat is staying inside your home instead of escaping. Even the tiniest cracks can allow heat to escape and increase your energy costs. You can go to a local hardware store to purchase weatherstripping that creates a tighter seal around your windows and doors so that heat cannot slip out. It’s a small investment to make that can pay off big time when you consider the costs associated with heating your home in the wintertime.
Simple Lifestyle Adjustments to Stay Warm and Save Energy
If you’re struggling with maintaining a lower thermostat setting, try to bundle up. Use warm layers and keep blankets handy for when you need them. You can even invest in electric heating blankets to stay warmer without increasing energy costs by using your heater.
When you take steps to feel warm, you’ll be less tempted to adjust your thermostat settings. And when you get your monthly energy bill, you’ll be so glad that you held off. Your energy costs will be lower and your budget won’t be as tight.
At Gideon Heating & Air Conditioning, we like to say that our work isn’t just good—it’s Gideon Guaranteed! Contact us today to schedule HVAC services.