5 Home Heating Tips to Save Money

While staying warm and cozy is essential during the colder months, it can also lead to higher energy bills. But fear not! There are several simple yet effective ways to keep your home warm without breaking the bank. 

This blog post will share 5 home heating tips that will help you save money while staying comfortable.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

Investing in a programmable thermostat can make a significant difference in your energy bills. By programming your thermostat to lower the temperature when you're away or asleep, you can save on heating costs without sacrificing comfort. 

Set your thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature based on your schedule, and watch your energy savings add up over time.

Seal Air Leaks

Air leaks around windows, doors, and other openings can cause heat loss and make your heating system work harder than necessary. Take some time to inspect your home for any gaps or cracks where warm air might be escaping. 

Use weather stripping or caulk to seal these areas and prevent heat loss. Not only will this help you save money on heating costs, but it will also make your home more comfortable overall.

Maximize Natural Sunlight

Take advantage of natural sunlight to help warm up your home during the day. Open up curtains or blinds on south-facing windows to let sunlight in and naturally heat up your living spaces. Just be sure to close them once the sun sets to retain as much heat as possible.

Maintain Your Heating System

Regular maintenance of your heating system is crucial for optimal performance and efficiency. Change air filters regularly, schedule annual inspections with a professional HVAC technician, and ensure that all vents are unobstructed for proper airflow. 

By taking care of your heating system, you can extend its lifespan and reduce energy consumption.

Layer Up

One of the simplest ways to save money on home heating costs is by layering up with warm clothing and blankets while indoors. Instead of cranking up the heat, opt for cozy sweaters, socks, and blankets to stay warm during chilly days and nights. 

Not only will this help you save on energy bills, but it's also a more sustainable way to stay comfortable in colder weather.

Final Thoughts

Saving money on home heating costs doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. By following these 5 simple tips – using a programmable thermostat, sealing air leaks, maximizing natural sunlight, maintaining your heating system, and layering up – you can stay warm and cozy while keeping more money in your pocket this winter season. 

Implement these strategies in your home today and enjoy a more comfortable living space without breaking the bank.

4 Ways a Programmable Thermostat Can Save You Money on Your Next Energy Bill

Transitioning to a programmable thermostat is more than a modern convenience – it's a strategic move for homeowners who value saving money and conserving energy. 

Whether you're a tech-savvy enthusiast looking to optimize your home's environmental footprint, or you're just tired of seeing excessive HVAC bills, a programmable thermostat is a proposition you can't afford to consider. 

Here are the four ways a programmable thermostat can chip away at your utilities, reflecting a win not only for your checkbook but also for the planet.

Understanding Temperature Optimization

A programmable thermostat introduces the concept of temperature optimization into your home. Forget to turn down the heat before leaving for work? No problem. 

With pre-set schedules, you can ensure that your HVAC system operates at a minimum level of use when it's not needed, and then automatically adjusts to a more comfortable setting before you return.

By maintaining a smaller temperature differential—keeping the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures more consistent—efficiency is vastly improved. This means your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard to restore the indoor temperature once you're back, saving substantial energy.

The Power of Smart Features

Today's programmable thermostats go beyond traditional time-based programming. Smart thermostats learn your schedule, sense when you’re on your way home, or even allow you to control settings remotely from your smartphone. 

These smart features give you unprecedented control over your home environment, ensuring your energy usage aligns precisely with your lifestyle.

Minimizing the system's on-time without compromising comfort is the true hallmark of saving energy. Plus, with software that continuously improves its performance, you'll always be at the cutting edge of efficiency. You're not just saving money; you're investing in a warmer, smarter, and more comfortable home.

Enhanced Visibility of Your Home's Energy Consumption

Batch numbers on power bills can feel as inscrutable as lottery numbers. By contrast, a smart thermostat displays your consumption in plain numbers and graphs, making it easier than ever to understand where all that utility payment is going.

By being more aware of the costs associated with heating and cooling, homeowners tend to make more of an effort to turn off lights, adjust insulation, and in some cases, make significant home upgrades that lead to greater savings. Being armed with this knowledge can empower you to make long-term, energy-saving decisions.

Weatherizing Your Home

Programmable thermostats can prompt you to undertake simple yet powerful weatherization projects in your home. By adjusting settings and being more mindful of your energy use, you may be inspired to seal drafts, insulate gaps, or upgrade windows. 

These actions will all impact your energy consumption positively, ensuring that the air you pay to produce stays inside your home longer.

When your heating and cooling systems aren't leaking efficiency through the proverbial cracks, the investment in a programmable thermostat becomes even more worthwhile. You'll be part of a movement of homeowners transforming residences into highly efficient, eco and budget-friendly havens.

Conclusion

The shift to a programmable thermostat is a savvy decision for any homeowner aiming to reduce energy bills and increase efficiency. By leveraging temperature optimization, harnessing smart features, gaining enhanced visibility into energy consumption, and promoting weatherization projects, you're setting the stage for significant savings and a smaller carbon footprint. It's an investment in both your home and the planet that pays off in comfort, convenience, and cost savings. 

Make the switch today by contacting local heating contractors, and take the first step towards a smarter, more sustainable home.

5 Money Saving Tips for Home Owners

As a homeowner, it's important to find ways to save money and reduce expenses. One of the biggest expenses for homeowners is maintenance and utility bills, especially when it comes to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. 

This blog post will discuss five money-saving tips for homeowners. 

By following these tips, you can not only save money but also ensure that your home is comfortable and energy-efficient all year round.

Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance

One of the easiest ways to save money on HVAC costs is by scheduling preventative HVAC maintenance for your system. By having a professional inspect and tune up your HVAC system at least once a year, you can ensure that it is running efficiently and avoid costly repairs down the line. 

Regular maintenance can also extend the lifespan of your HVAC system, saving you money in the long run.

Change Air Filters Regularly

Another important money-saving tip for homeowners is to change air filters regularly. Dirty air filters can restrict airflow and cause your HVAC system to work harder, leading to higher energy bills. 

By changing your air filters every 1-3 months, depending on your system and household, you can improve indoor air quality and reduce energy consumption.

Invest in a Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat is a great investment for homeowners looking to save money on heating and cooling costs. With a programmable thermostat, you can set temperatures for different times of the day and night, allowing you to reduce energy usage when you are away from home or asleep. 

This can lead to significant savings on your utility bills without sacrificing comfort.

Seal Air Leaks

Another effective way to save money on HVAC costs is by sealing air leaks in your home. Air leaks can cause your HVAC system to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature, leading to higher energy bills. 

By caulking and weatherstripping windows, doors, and other areas where air may be escaping, you can improve energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling costs.

Upgrade to Energy-Efficient HVAC Equipment

If your current HVAC system is outdated or inefficient, consider upgrading to energy-efficient equipment. Energy-efficient HVAC systems can reduce energy consumption, lower utility bills, and qualify you for rebates or incentives from utility companies. 

While the upfront cost of upgrading may be higher, the long-term savings on energy costs can make it a worthwhile investment.

Final Thoughts

Saving money as a homeowner is possible with a few simple tips and tricks. By scheduling regular maintenance, changing air filters, investing in a programmable thermostat, sealing air leaks, and upgrading to energy-efficient equipment, you can reduce energy costs and keep your home comfortable all year round. 

Remember, a well-maintained HVAC system not only saves you money but also improves indoor air quality and extends the lifespan of your equipment. 

Implementing these money-saving tips can help you enjoy a comfortable and cost-effective home for years to come.

Preparing Your Home for Wintertime

Fall is a great time to start thinking about home maintenance and getting your home ready for the cold winter, especially if there are household-related items on your to-do list. 

It would probably be better to get them done as soon as possible instead of braving the cold to get it done later. 

Here are a few items to consider to make sure your home is happy to come wintertime.

Review Your HVAC System

Heating systems can last anywhere from 12 to 15 years, though various variables and circumstances can cause some to fail after about 10 years. Others can make it to 20 years with the right conditions and care. 

A lot depends on how an HVAC system is maintained. Before winter comes, change all of your filters. You can also have a good HVAC contractor review your system. The contractor should check to make sure that your heat will work when you need it to. 

It is better to find out that your HVAC system is broken during warmer weather than to find out that your heater is not working during the frigid winter.

Check Your Roof

Your roof is all that stands between your family and snow, sleet, or rain. You need it to function well to keep your home warm and cozy throughout the winter.

Start by checking your roofline. Your roofline should be straight. If you see dipping, curving, or sagging, this indicates an issue that might require a roof repair. 

During the winter, your roof is exposed to heavy rain or snowfall, which means there’s accumulating weight gathering. This puts extra stress on the roof and can worsen an existing sagging problem, leading to a cave-in in some worst-case scenarios.

Check the chimney flashing for leaks. Your flashing should not be loose or damaged, and any caulking holding it in place should not be cracked or deteriorated. Check for signs of water intrusion around the chimney.

Finally, remove debris and clean out your gutters. Low hanging branches present a danger during heavy snowfall. Remove those for the greatest protection.

Test Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Most fires happen during the winter since the furnace is blasting, and people are building fires. Additionally, during the winter, you are likely to have your home closed uptight. This increases the risk of carbon monoxide accumulation.

Always check your chimney flue before starting a fire in the fireplace. This will prevent you from suffocating. Check your smoke detectors to make sure they are working properly and have new batteries as well. If your home does not have a carbon monoxide detector, now would be a good time to get one.

Winter is coming. It can wreak havoc on your home. However, if you take the time to do some preventative maintenance during the summer and fall months, you can prepare your home for winter and lessen the chances of needing a serious repair during the winter months.

How to Save on Air Conditioning and Heating in an Older Home

There are plenty of reasons why prospective buyers look for an older building when choosing their home. While there are usually plenty of good reasons to pick an aged home, these structures can also present a few challenges that you should be ready to handle. 

This list of challenges often includes difficulty maintaining indoor temperatures as well as higher overall heating and air conditioning costs.

Address Outdated Insulation

One of the most common problems with older houses is poor insulation from the outside. This could be due to degraded or outdated insulation within the walls. 

It could also stem from general deterioration of the seals around windows and doors, or air leaks in the attic and crawl space. Getting new insulation and seals around all points of the entrance can put a huge dent in your power bill.

Consider Zoning the House

Zoning your house by modifying your system to support multiple thermostats can also really cut down on your costs. This type of HVAC setup divides homes into distinct areas, usually several rooms connected together, that share heating and cooling needs. 

When zoning a home, you can set different temperature goals so you only have to invest a lot of energy into the areas where you actually spend time every day.

Consider Ductless Options

Ductless units are a great way to supplement your existing HVAC system without investing in costly installs or ductwork. These units operate as heat pumps by transferring heat between the inside and outside of the home, depending on your current needs. 

They don't rely on any ducts, hence the name ductless, and are relatively small and easy to install. Homeowners who want to concentrate on conditioning a single room or space can save a lot of money with one of these.

Modernize Your System

Some older homes simply have an old, outdated, and worn out HVAC system that needs to be replaced. Removing old equipment and putting a new system in can be expensive initially, but often results in much more efficient operation from month to month. If you intend to stay in the home for the foreseeable future, this option may be your best bet for staying comfortable and getting bang for your buck.

It's hard to quantify the value of a good heating and cooling system, especially if you live in an area with sweltering summers or frigid winters. When buying an old home, it's a good idea to consider the costs of modifying or replacing the HVAC system before you make a final decision.

Top Mistakes People Make to Hurt Their Power Bill During the Winter

 

With winter close on the horizon, it's time to start hunkering down in your home so that you can stay warm and comfortable. In most cases, spending more time inside results in higher utility bills during the winter months. 

However, if you notice that your utility bill is getting exceptionally high, it could be due to mistakes that you're making without realizing that you're making them. To help get your energy costs under control, it makes sense to correct these mistakes as soon as you can.

Using Unnecessary Hot Water

Throughout the year, the temperature of the water that comes into your home varies depending on the outside temperature. Thus, in the winter, your water heater will have to use more energy to heat the water than it does in the summer. Therefore, if you're using unnecessary hot water, you could end up spending more on your utility bill.

The most common use of hot water where it's not needed is in your washer. For the most part, cold water will suffice to get your clothes clean, especially when using modern detergents. If you’re worried about killing germs, remember that the dryer will heat your clothes to much higher temperatures than the washer ever would.

Not Servicing Your HVAC System

As the weather turns colder, you will come to depend on your HVAC system more and more to keep your home comfortable. It's important, then, that you have your system properly maintained so that it can run as efficiently as possible. 

AC service and furnace service are both crucial to help maintain your system's proper operation and ensure that these units aren't using more energy than they should.

Not Setting Thermostat

If you have a programmable thermostat, it's important that you use it fully throughout the winter. Go through all of the settings that are available so that you can properly program your thermostat to turn on and off at the correct times. You'll also want to experiment with different temperatures to see if you can settle for a lower temperature in your home while still staying comfortable.

Not Insulating Around Doors

The doors in your home are some of the largest openings in the exterior walls. Therefore, they represent one of the biggest potentials for energy loss. That's why it's important to ensure that the door and the door jamb have a tight seal so that cold air stays outside where it belongs. If there's not a tight seal, it's important to use various weatherstripping methods to ensure that the gap is closed.

For the most part, preventing excess energy usage during the winter can largely be achieved by performing ongoing maintenance to your home and its mechanical systems. Therefore, if you're taking care of your home, you'll receive the dual benefits of an extended lifespan for the materials in your home and lower energy usage during extreme temperatures.

5 Reasons to Get Your HVAC System Checked This Spring

As soon as the weather starts to warm up, you should think about having your HVAC system inspected and serviced. A little bit of preventative maintenance could save you quite a bit of money and help you avoid time-consuming problems down the road.

Avoid Expensive Breakdowns

Even though most of the HVAC systems made in the past few years are durable, they must stand up to an incredible amount of use and abuse. During your HVAC System Maintenance, the technician can catch and fix smaller issues well before they lead to expensive breakdowns.

Lower Your Energy Bills

In the average home, climate control is one of the largest expenses. To keep your energy bills at a reasonable level, you must have the system regularly serviced by an experienced technician. That tech can ensure that your heating and cooling system remains as efficient as possible during the hottest and coldest months.

Reduce Your Risk of Mold

It is unfortunate that mold outbreaks can occur inside your HVAC system, and those spores will make their way into your home. Over time, the airborne contaminants will increase your risk of a wide variety of serious health issues. 

Luckily, treating a mold outbreak is relatively easy if you catch it before it spreads to the rest of your home.

Remove Invasive Pests

During the coldest months of the year, many pests are going to look for shelter, and various areas of the HVAC system will be perfect for their nests. 

While you can visually inspect the ducts and vents throughout the winter, you should think about having a technician thoroughly inspect the system before turning on the air conditioner for the first time.

Longer System Lifespan

Without proper maintenance, some HVAC systems will completely break down in a very short period, and replacing those units can be costly. The easiest and most effective way to extend the system's lifespan is to have it inspected and serviced by a certified technician at least once or twice a year. Regular HVAC services can extend the lifespan of your unit by years.

Spring maintenance is a great start, but your heating and cooling system should be serviced once the weather starts to cool off as well. Those biannual service calls will keep your HVAC system running smoothly and efficiently for many years.

4 Benefits of Installing Central Air Conditioning in an Older Home

You’ve purchased an old home, and it’s heading into summer. That means heat outside. If your home has no central air, it can also mean hot and stuffy air inside. Air conditioning was not a priority before the past few decades, and the heat may have you considering central air if you lack it. Here are four benefits of installing a central air unit in your older home.

Cooler Indoor Temperatures

Overall, it’s possible to keep a house cooler with a central air unit than it is with a few window units. Central air conditioning comes with ducts that fairly evenly distribute the refreshing cool air throughout the house. 

By keeping older window units, only the rooms that house the units will remain cool. The rest of the house could be quite warm when temperatures hit the 90 or 100 degree mark.

More Efficiency

While you may have to refer to a professional for AC system repair periodically, you will not likely have to use as much energy to keep a home cool. The reason for this is the higher efficiency that’s tied to newer models when compared with those built even 10 or 20 years ago. Better efficiency ratings mean lower costs because less energy overall will be used in the process of cooling your home.

Tax Benefits

Even though the federal rebates for energy efficiency ended recently, some states provide tax credits for the purchase of a new HVAC system that’s energy efficient. This means that the overall cost of putting in a system could be much less than the sticker price any prospective installers might quote. 

These tax credits and rebates can go a long way toward making the purchase of a new AC system affordable. Of course, it would be a good idea to check into any sate or local incentives before making the purchase.

Increased Value

Most people want air conditioning. In many parts of the country, it’s a necessity. Those who are looking for a home might not pay enough to take care of the entire cost of a new system, but people are less likely to buy a home that lacks one. Prospective buyers will pay a slight premium for AC, and this premium will probably be higher in areas in which most homes lack it.

There are many benefits that come with installing central air in an older home. Newer units are more efficient so the overall cost will be lower. You’ll also be able to enjoy more comfort when relaxing at home.