The first heating bill of the winter season can come as a shock. With gas and oil prices rising, you might be looking for ways to lower your home heating costs. Fortunately, there are several tactics to save money in the peak heating months.
You can accomplish many of these fixes yourself. For others, you might want to contact Roach Energy to give your system a check-up.
Here are five tried-and-true tips to save money on your home heating expenses.
There are countless ways for warm air to escape your home. As the weather turns frigid, you want to conserve every bit of heat.
A good start toward reducing home heating costs is to check your house for drafts. Typical solutions for heat loss are:
When less heat escapes your home, your heating system needs to cycle less often.
Even if your furnace or boiler is in perfect working order, your home may not be receiving efficient heat from it. Take a moment to look at your vents and baseboards. Dust, grime, rugs, and furniture can all obstruct airflow.
It’s easy to forget about these heat pathways in temperate seasons. Clearing them of blockages will reduce the amount of time your heating system needs to run to warm your home.
Between last winter and now, your heating system might have lost some efficiency. It is wise to have a professional technician inspect your furnace or boiler once a year.
An annual tune-up ensures that your heating system is clear of dirt and soot and calibrated to the most energy-efficient settings. Technicians will catch blockages in drafts, vents, and flues, leading to a 20% loss in heating efficiency.
Getting your heating system tuned up each year brings many benefits. Home energy experts will catch problems that, left unattended, can eventually lead to costly repairs. It is also an opportunity to check for fumes and carbon monoxide leakage.
Roach Energy performs maintenance on all the top furnace and boiler manufacturers, including Trane, Carrier, Buderus, Luxaire, and Utica. We also sell and install a full range of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment. With a Roach Energy service plan, our fully-trained, professional technicians provide regular tune-ups, ensuring that your equipment runs at peak efficiency.
Reducing your thermostat by a few degrees for a part of the day can save you up to 10% on your monthly heating bill. The best and easiest way to accomplish this is by installing a programmable thermostat. You can schedule your temperature reduction for hours that you are out of the house.
Even better, consider a smart thermostat like Nest. These products have extensive temperature control options you can regulate from your smartphone. They also make energy-saving adjustments, reducing your home’s temperature when no one is home.
This is probably the simplest heating solution, but it is amazingly effective. The sun provides excellent home heat, provided it has a clear path into your home. To take full advantage of sunlight, keep your blinds and curtains drawn throughout the day.
Also, be sure to trim and prune shrubs and trees outside your home, so they don’t block that free heat source.
If you try these tips, you should see some savings in your winter heating bills. You also can avoid pricey repairs on your heating system down the line.
Roach Energy has served eastern West Virginia or western Maryland for almost 70 years. If you are thinking about upgrading your home heating system, contact us today!
