This winter has been replete with plenty of snow and cold weather, much more than usual for the past several years. We’ve seen several of our neighbors in the New Albany area have complaining regarding their outrageous increases in utility bills. Following are our favorite ways to keep your home comfortable and warm without emptying the checkbook. See how many you can implement to save major cash on future utility bills.
Start with the Thermostat
This is the best way to have the biggest and most immediate impact on your energy bill. You should save about 10 percent per year on utility bills by lowering the setting on your thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours each day, according to the US Department of Energy. You can double your benefit and improve your sleep at the same time saving money on utility bills (lowering your home’s temperature at night can help with more comfortable sleep). If you spend a combined minimum of 8 hours or more in bed and out of the house at work each day, you can save a bundle. Lower the temperature as low as you can go with compromising the comfort and safety of your pets.
Go For Smart Thermostats
Why not let technology do the heavy lifting on managing your thermostat? Install a programmable thermostat, or even better, a smart thermostat. Smart Thermostats are part of the Internet of Things (IOT) and can be controlled from virtually anywhere using a smartphone app. If you’re really want to take advantage of this tech, get a WiFi Thermostat that you can control from your smartphone. Although you can program the thermostat to change temperatures at any scheduled time, you can conceivably turn up the thermostat manually from your app before you leave work and your home will be comfortably warm by the time you arrive at home!
Routine Heating System Maintenance
We recommend regular, scheduled routine maintenance on your home’s furnace at least once per year in the fall, in the spring for central air. If it’s been awhile, or even only one year since you’re had it serviced, your furnace could be working overtime trying to keep up with demand because of accumulated dirt in the system. And remember, a regular tune-up and safety check on the HVAC system in your home will catch small problems before they become big (expensive) problems.
Keep Your Heat Registers Clean and Clear
The airflow in your home’s furnace works best when there’s an unobstructed flow of air through your vents and back through the cold air returns. Keep those vents clean of dust and debris and make sure that your vents aren’t blocked by furniture, rugs, or other objects to keep that system humming.
Bundle Up for Added Warmth
Try adding a layer of extra clothing, like sweatshirts, sweaters, PJs, and so on, to help keep warm when your thermostat is a little lower. In our house, we keep stadium blankets around to add another layer of warmth and coziness while we’re enjoying an evening of reading or Netflix, all in the interest of saving a few bucks on utility bills.
Flip Your Ceiling Fan Switch
There is a little switch on the side of your ceiling fan to rotate the fan blades clockwise, to circulate the warmest air from around the ceiling back down to where humans can appreciate it. Run the fans on low speed in rooms that are occupied. This will circulate the warmest air from the ceiling back down to the floor. We recommend ceiling fans with remote controls (or SmartPhone apps) so you can easily turn them off when the room is empty. Leaving the fans running all the time could potentially offset any utility bill savings.
Here Comes the Sun: Solar Energy
I’ve had many pets over the years that liked to stretch out in front of a cozy sunny window for a nap on a chilly winter afternoon. Open the blinds on the sunny side of the house, and close blinds on the dark side, to let the natural rays of the sun warm the inside of the house (and keep those utility bills lower).
Git ‘R Done
Ohio winters don’t have to be overwhelming, either from a temperature or financial perspective. Put these tips to work right away and you’ll start seeing immediate benefits.
If it’s been a year or longer since you’ve had HVAC service, we recommend our Furnace Tune-Up and Safety Check. View our DEALS page for a discount coupon on this service. You can save even more by investing in an annual Scheduled Maintenance Agreement.
Call New Albany’s Top Furnace Repair Contractor
Of course, when you’re ready to have your home’s heating and cooling system serviced, contact central Ohio’s most reliable Furnace Repair contractor, Lewis Center-Powell Heating & Cooling. Use our convenient online form to schedule a visit, or for immediate service call (614) 490-7530.
