Let’s face the facts – winter is here, and the weather is only going to get colder. Hopefully, you’ve already prepped your furnace and heating systems so they’re ready to get to work for you. While you know your utility bills are inevitably going to increase, there are quite a few things you can do to keep them as low as possible. Read on to learn how you can help your heating system perform as efficiently as it possibly can over winter.
Let Nature Do Some of the Work
Although your windows are closed to block out the cold winter air, it doesn’t mean that they can’t help in heating the house. Draw open your drapes and raise your blinds to let the sun stream in. The cleaner your windows, the more sunlight they let in and the warmer your house gets. Natural light is a great way to lose those winter blues too!
Draw Your Drapes at Sundown
Trap the heat at night by closing your drapes at sundown. Your drapes act as an insulating layer between your windows and the rest of your house, preventing heat from escaping through them. You can save even more if you have thick drapes or invest in insulating curtains. Shop around, they aren’t as expensive as you may think, and they pay for themselves over time.
Seal Your Windows, Skylights, and Doors
Old, drafty windows are a big reason why heating bills skyrocket accounting for 10 to 25 percent of your overall heating bill. If your windows rattle or you feel a draft near them, there’s a good chance that they are the prime culprits behind heat loss. Apply weather stripping or caulking to seal any gaps. Replacing old windows with ENERGY STAR® certified models can result in huge savings on your utility bills. Natural Resources Canada reports the energy efficiency of ENERGY STAR® products compared to regular ones as follows:
- Windows: 20 percent more energy efficient
- Doors: 15 percent more efficient
- Skylights: 35 percent more efficient
If there’s a gap between the bottom of your door and floor, a door snake can help prevent heat from escaping. For rooms that are used frequently, a door sweep is more convenient as you won’t have to keep replacing it every time you open and shut the door.
Prevent Heat Loss from the Chimney
Ensuring that your chimney is properly insulated and cleaned can reduce the amount of heat lost through the chimney while still maintaining a steady flow of air. Check that your chimney cap is tight, and your flue is closed whenever you don’t have a fire going. Fireplace doors are another great way to make sure that heat from the room isn’t lost when the fire dies down.
Reorganize Your Furniture
Give your home a new look over the winter by rearranging your furniture so that all the vents, registers, and radiators have plenty of space around them. This helps warm air circulate freely throughout your house. Blocked air vents can create a pressure imbalance in the system resulting in an uneven distribution of heat in the house. Keeping the doors of rooms you rarely use closed along with their vents can also help your heating system work more efficiently.
Invest in a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are an inexpensive upgrade to make and can result in huge energy savings. You can regulate the temperature of your house no matter where you are from your phone and also set the configuration of different temperatures for distinct periods of the day or days of the week. This way you won’t forget to turn the thermostat down before you leave for work or at the end of a long day. Keeping your thermostat turned down by even a couple of degrees when you’re not at home or in bed can help you save a fortune in energy costs.
Call In Your Local Heating Experts
If you have adopted most of these measures and still find that your home isn’t as comfortable as it should be or your energy bills are through the roof, there may be something wrong with your HVAC system or your furnace. Call in a professional heating maintenance company to give the system a once over to locate the problem before it gets any worse. It can help you avoid expensive repairs later, or even worse being without heating in winter.
Get in touch with us to know how we can help!
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