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Staying warm and toasty is important in the cold season.
“This causes the system to work harder to maintain the set temperature, increasing the utility bill.”
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you’re free to do a lot by maintenance by yourself, but not all of it.
Not having the HVAC or furnace serviced annuallyby certified HVAC techniciansis a major home heating mistake, Roberson says.
Scheduling an annual HVAC tune-up can catch issues like dirty coils that reduce system efficiency, Taylor says.
“Regular maintenance ensures your heating system performs optimally all season.
Taylor recommends scheduling yearly tune-ups to keep the system running efficiently and reduce energy costs.
The solution is to install aprogrammable thermostat.
A programmable thermostat lets you adapt the home heating cycles to your lifewhether you’re at home or away.
“Many utilities even offer discounts, making these thermostats an affordable upgrade.”
Smart thermostats can also track energy usage so homeowners can adjust as needed to help lower utility bills.
Keep the temperature to around 64 to 75F.
If you’re comfortable in the lower range, stick to that.
This causes the heating system to overwork due to misreadings.
Blocking vents with furniture or holiday decorations limits airflow and can create cold spots.
Check every HVAC vent or register in the home.
Floor vents may have boxes or furniture over them.
Even if they aren’t blocked, they might be shut off by accident.
Slide the lever or turn the dial on the vent to fire up the register’s vanes.
They should be pointed upward (vertically), not sideways or diagonally.
Closing Off Unused Rooms
Closing off HVAC registers in unused rooms would appear to be more energy-efficient.
“This will strain the HVAC system and can even lead to leaks or overheating.”
It’s common for homeowners to ignore or avoid using a thermostat’s full range of functions.
So, after installing a smart or programmable thermostatlearn how to use it.
Smart thermostats allow you to set heating schedules that align with your lifestyle.
Programming lower temperatures when youre asleep or away saves energy without sacrificing comfort when youre home.
He recommends that you seal air leaks with inexpensive weather stripping to prevent heat loss and keep rooms warmer.
This will reduce the need for constant heating.
They can also enter through the edges of windows or doors.
Consider using insulated orblackout curtainson windows.
These thick curtains are easy to install yet provide plenty of insulation against cold coming through the window.
After all, you’re adding to your home heating system with a low-cost energy source: wood.
Using a fireplace for heat if you have a functioning HVAC system also rapidly dirties the air filter.
You’ll find these fans in the kitchen, bathrooms, and thelaundry room.
Leaving Windows Unlatched
Cold air comes through cracks around the windows.
Go around the house and check that every window latch is shut.
If the latch is broken, replace it with a new latch.
Underheating the House
Underheating is a significant home heating mistake.
While keeping the thermostat low is good, it’s possible to keep ittoo low.
A house stays warm not just with heated air but with heated surfaces.
As the air cools, they radiate the heat back into the home.
So, set the thermostat to around 64 to 75F, but avoid going lower than 64F.
