According to statistics, the average US household spends almost $2000 a year on utility bills, with heating taking the largest chunk. This is a worrying trend that any responsible homeowner should want to change. Luckily, there are several adjustments you can make around your house to keep your heating bill in check. This post gives you tips and tricks on saving energy and money on your heating system.
Adjust the thermostat
The best way to save money on your energy bill(s) is to adjust the thermostat. At night, you should turn down your heat by a few degrees, and in the morning, when everyone gets up and starts moving around again, set it back at its average temperature. This will allow you to maintain a consistent warmth throughout the house while making it more energy-efficient. Experts suggest that you can save energy up to 2% of your electricity bill through this habit.
Insulate your home
As mentioned above, the average US household spends a lot of money on energy costs. One big culprit behind this is that homes aren’t insulated well enough to keep heat from escaping. In fact, estimates show that around 30% of heat escapes through poorly-insulated walls and roofs! Make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep the heat in, like adding insulation and caulking your windows. This is one of the best energy-saving tips to keep your boiler system from overworking all the time.
Shut off your heating vents when you’re away from home or sleeping at night
Dozens of people leave their homes every day with all the heat vents and windows open! When this happens, it results in wasted energy as the warm air escapes; not only that, but it’s also being blown out into the cold, making it harder for a heating system to keep a consistent temperature. So before you run off in your car or go up to bed at night, be sure that all vents are properly closed and shut off!
Avoid turning on your heating system if you don’t need it
If the weather is sunny and warm, there’s no reason to turn on your heat. Many homeowners have become so used to using their central heating systems that they’re afraid not to use them during the summer months! But this practice can be pretty harmful for two reasons: first, it makes your heating and cooling system work hard to heat the same amount of space. This will lead to faster wear and tear on your heating components! Second, doing this can cost you much more money than just waiting for cooler weather again.
Clean your radiator system
You should clean your heating system every few months to keep it in good shape. If there’s too much grime and residue building up, the heat won’t circulate properly through the pipes, leading to all sorts of problems. This will include a reduced shelf life and higher utility bills! You’ll know it’s time to clean your radiators when you notice cold spots forming at the bottom.
Don’t use space heaters
If it’s cold outside, don’t turn on space heaters. Most of these devices are not energy efficient, so they’ll increase your heating bills while not providing sufficient warmth for the entire house! Instead, you should wait until it’s warmer outside before turning them on again. This will go a long way to keeping your heating system in good shape.
Zone your HVAC system
If you have a large house, it’s best to zone your heating system. This means instead of having one furnace or boiler system running throughout the entire place, there should be separate heating systems for different parts! This way, you won’t have to waste energy heating rooms that are empty or cold! For example, if you live in an older home with several stories and spaces on each floor, it might make sense to have a separate furnace on each level.
Program your thermostat
Many homeowners tend to leave their thermostat at the same temperature level all day long, but that’s not efficient. Instead of this, program your heating system to go up or down by a certain number of degrees during different times of day! For example, if you know everyone will be gone from around 11 AM- 12 PM and home again around 12 PM- one, you can program your heating system to turn up at that time. This will ensure that the inside is nice and cozy when everyone gets home!
Correct your boiler settings
Another problem that most homeowners don’t realize they’re having is with their boiler settings. If you use the wrong fuel to run it on (like propane instead of natural gas), your system will work twice as hard- and end up costing more cash! Ensure you know what type of fuel each heating equipment uses to prevent things like this from happening.
Organize a home energy audit to pick out energy flaws
Lastly, you might want to hire a heating system professional to conduct a comprehensive home energy audit. This should bring to light all the things you’re not doing right to conserve energy. They will also advise you on the relevant changes to make and offer valuable ideas about enhancing energy efficiency in your home.
We Will Help You Save Energy At Home!
If you realize you’re spending too much cash on your energy bills every month, you might want to take some drastic action. Visit us at Desert Air Conditioning to get the help you need. Our heating Palm Springs CA engineers will help you with the most effective ways to cut down your energy usage and save money in no time! Contact us today to schedule a free appointment!