When facing the winter months ahead, there are a few things that you can do to save yourself some money and make your heater work a little easier.
- Turning up the thermostat all the way. If you think that turning your thermostat up all the way is going to make your house heat up faster, you are wrong. Your home heats up at the same rate not matter what the temperature is. By setting is too high, it can cause your heater to work overtime and increase wear and tear.
- Using space heaters. Some homes, especially in older homes, the heat doesn’t quite reach all the rooms. Using space heaters will heat up the room but it will cost you. Not to mention they are a fire hazard.
- Forgetting to change air filters. As the hot air moves through your filters, they collect dust and debris so you don’t breath it. When you forget to change these, the filters become clogged and air can’t flow through as freely, making your system work harder.
- Closing vents in empty rooms. It may seem like restricting air flow to unused rooms would heat up the other rooms quicker but it could lead to damaged ductwork, reduced energy efficiency, and increased system wear and tear. By compromising and closing your vents slightly will increase heating efficiency in rooms that need it the most.
- Leaving the heater on when no one is home. If you are planning on spending the day out, or maybe you are going on vacation, turn your thermostat down to 65 degrees. This will conserve energy and help you save money. It may be worth your time to invest in a digital thermostat that you can program and set from your phone.
Put these tips to use this winter and save your worries for what to buy your in-laws for Christmas.
