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Home heating companies often provide simple advice on caring for heating equipment, but they know homeowners can keep their homes even warmer and more comfortable by following some simple energy-saving tips. Here are a few examples that can help keep your home comfortable without making your heating bills skyrocket.

Lower the Thermostat Settings

Did you know that you can still achieve comfortable temperatures this winter even if you use a lower thermostat setting? The trick is to program your thermostat to adjust the temperature while you’re away–or at night when you’re asleep–so you don’t come home to or wake up in a freezing house. A setting of 55 degrees F at night is ideal, and 68 degrees works well for the hours you’re home during the day.

Seal the Chimney Flue

Heated air can escape easily through an open chimney flue, so make sure to seal it closed when you’re not using it.

Use Ceiling Fans

Hot air rises, but by turning on your ceiling fans you can push it back down into your rooms. This will keep them warm enough that your heating equipment won’t have to work as hard.

Clean Anything That Helps Heat Your Home

Your radiators and vents collect dust over time, so make sure to wipe them clean as needed. Thick dust can keep your equipment from working properly, and can also cause allergies. lt’s also important to clean or replace the air filters, as well as seal any holes or cracks in your heating ducts to make them more efficient. You can easily find  duct cleaning companies that can help you keep your ductwork free of dust and contaminants.

Use Curtains to Your Advantage

Open the curtains on windows facing the sun to let in more natural light and the heat that comes with it. Draw the curtains closed at night to hold in the heat and insulate your home from the cold.

Close Interior Doors

It’s a no-brainer to keep your exterior doors closed to keep heated air from escaping, but what about your interior doors? If it’s a door to a room that doesn’t need heated, you should keep it closed, as this will help heat the areas you use regularly more quickly.

Seal Everything

Seal any area where heated air might escape, such as the space around your windows and doors. Weatherstrips are cheap and easy to install, as are door sweeps. Use caulk to seal cracks on walls. 

Maintain Your Heating Equipment

Heating and cooling equipment functions in the background, so it’s fairly easy to forget about it. However, failiing to maintain your equipment can lead to costly problems in the most difficult moments. Professional air conditioner maintenance  is worth the cost of keeping your equipment functional when you need it most.

Don’t throw money away on a poorly-maintained, inefficient HVAC system. Home Air Services can help you keep your HVAC fully functional all year ’round, lowering your heating and cooling costs and preventing expensive repairs and premature replacement. Call us today at (301) 585-8100 to find out more about our services.

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