While the winters in Texas usually aren’t all that cold, heating your house can still come at a high cost. Avoiding common mistakes and taking some basic steps to ensure your heating system performs effectively and remains in good shape is important for keeping your energy bills as low as possible. By following all of these winter heating tips, you’ll be able to stay warm and toasty without having to spend too much on your utility bills.
Set Your Thermostat Correctly
The temperature you set your to is obviously a matter of personal preference. That said, it’s always better to put on more warm clothes or cover up with a blanket when you’re feeling chilly rather than cranking up the temperature on your thermostat. Leaving your thermostat set between 68 and 72 degrees when you’re home ensures your home is sufficiently warm without your heating system having to work overtime.
You should also make sure to set your thermostat around 3-5 degrees lower before leaving for work and before going to bed. Turning the temperature down too much can actually lead to your heating system using more energy due to how long it has to run when you turn the temperature back up.
Use a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
If you have an old analog or manual thermostat, upgrading to a programmable model or a smart thermostat can really pay off. By programming your thermostat so that it automatically turns the temperature down when you leave for work and then again at bedtime ensures you don’t have to worry about forgetting to do it manually and your heating system running more than necessary.
Smart thermostats are especially useful for saving energy. Most units have advanced features that allow them to detect if the house is occupied and automatically adjust the temperature at certain times. Some units monitor the weather and can adjust the settings based on the current outdoor temperature and the weather forecast. Most smart thermostats are also more accurate in terms of measuring the temperature inside the house. Studies have shown that a smart thermostat will reduce the amount a heating system runs by at least 8% on average, allowing you to save on your energy bills.
Replace or Wash Air Filters Regularly
A dirty filter restricts how much air the blower can draw into the HVAC system, resulting in the system putting out less heat and having to run more. Disposable air filters can last for up to three months before they need to be replaced. However, there are situations where they can get overly dirty in only a month or two. Get into the habit of checking the filter to see how dirty it is every month. That way, you don’t risk waiting too long to replace it and causing your heating bills to increase.
Upgrade to a More Efficient HVAC System
Many homes in Texas have outdated and/or inefficient heating systems that use excess energy. Electric furnaces, electric baseboard heaters, and gas furnaces are all extremely inefficient compared to heat pump systems. While replacing your existing heating with a heat pump system requires a substantial investment, it really pays off in the long run. If you have an electric furnace or baseboard heating, a heat pump could easily lower your heating costs by 50% or more. Replacing a gas furnace with a heat pump can lower your heating costs by one-third or more. With a new heat pump system, you’ll also enjoy efficient, effective cooling throughout the hot, humid summer months.
Check for and Seal Air Leaks
Air leaks around windows and doors are a common issue that contributes to higher heating bills by allowing heat to escape and letting cold air inside. Sealing up any leaks by recaulking around window and door frames and replacing worn-out weather stripping reduces the amount of work your heating system has to do.
Replacing single-pane windows with energy-efficient double-pane windows will also make a significant difference in your energy bills during winter and summer. If you have any single-pane windows and aren’t looking to replace them right now, it’s a good idea to seal them with a plastic window kit before winter. Sealing single-pane windows with plastic helps to reduce transfer by blocking out cold and trapping in heat.
Make Sure Your Home Has Sufficient Insulation
Many homes in Texas, especially older ones, weren’t really constructed with cold temperatures in mind due to how mild our winters typically are. Not having sufficient insulation in your exterior walls, floors, ceilings, and especially the attic can result in significant heat loss, leading to your heating system having a much higher workload. While reinsulating your house also requires a fairly large investment, it can save you a significant amount on your heating and air conditioning costs.
Run Ceiling Fans in Reverse
Many people think that the only purpose of ceiling fans is to produce a breeze that helps you feel cooler during the summer, but they can also be just as beneficial during the winter. Forced-air heating systems struggle to maintain consistent temperatures from floor to ceiling. The hot air the system produces quickly rises to the ceiling, leading to the rest of the room starting to feel cooler not long after the system shuts off. Running ceiling fans in reverse so that the blades spin clockwise pushes the warm air trapped near the ceilings downward, helping to make the entire room feel a bit warmer. By using ceiling fans to circulate hot air throughout the room, you can keep your thermostat set slightly lower to save energy without feeling too chilly.
Open Window Coverings During the Day and Close Them at Night
Taking advantage of the sun’s heat during the day by leaving curtains and blinds open is an easy way to keep the house warmer and lessen the load on the heating system. South-facing windows contribute most to solar heat gain, as they receive direct sunlight throughout most of the day. West-facing windows let heat inside throughout the afternoon when the sun is the warmest. Using insulated window coverings and keeping them closed at night helps lower energy bills by preventing heat loss through the windows.
Schedule Heating Maintenance With Honest Home Services LLC
Annual heating maintenance makes a major difference in terms of ensuring efficient heating performance throughout the winter and preventing energy waste. No matter what type of heating you have, it will develop issues that limit its effectiveness and force it to run more if you don’t have a professional service it regularly. Maintenance also helps prevent mid-season breakdowns and premature system failure.
Our experienced team can service all makes and models of furnaces and heat pumps and will make sure that your heating system functions efficiently and is free of any issues. We’re also the name to trust for heating repairs, smart thermostat installation, and system upgrades. If you’re searching for honest, dependable heating services in the Flower Mound, TX, area, call the experts at Honest Home Services LLC.
