In the cold winter months, energy bills can skyrocket for homeowners as they try to keep their home comfortable and safe. Increased energy use also has an environmental impact and can affect the air quality in your home. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to minimize your energy use during the winter, which will improve your indoor air quality and reduce your energy costs.
1. Let in the Sun
The sun is a natural heat source, so on sunny days open up the curtains and let it in. The heat will take some of the burden off of your furnace. If it provides enough heat, you may even be able to turn down the thermostat.
2. Close Curtains and Blinds at Night
Once the sun goes down, close your curtains and blinds to keep in the heat from the sun, and to keep out the cold air.
3. Cover Windows
If your windows are drafty or single panes, covering them with plastic can make a big difference, keeping cold air from coming in. You can find window covering kits at the hardware store.
4. Find and Seal Leaks
Air leaks are a leading cause of wasted energy, and can account for up to 10% of your energy bills. You can use weather stripping, caulk, or spray foam insulation to seal gaps that allow cold air to come into your home. These gaps may include:
- Gaps around windows and doors
- Gaps around openings where pipes, wiring, or ducts enter your home
- Electrical outlets or light switches on exterior walls (install foam gaskets to insulate)
- Your kitchen exhaust fan
- Skylights
5. Adjust the Temperature
Of course, keeping your thermostat low will decrease your energy use. Wear warm clothing and use blankets to stay comfortable. You can also use electric blankets. Ideally, you should keep the temperature at 68 to 70 degrees during the day when you’re at home, and lower at night or when you’re away.
6. Consider a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat allows you to program your desired temperatures, and to adjust your temperature from anywhere. This can come in handy when you’re on your way home and want to warm up the house before you arrive, or when you leave your home and forget to turn down the thermostat.
7. Change Your Furnace Filter
When your furnace filter is dirty, your furnace has to work harder to push air through the system. Changing your furnace filter regularly is one of the easiest ways to reduce your energy bills, sometimes by as much as 15%. Clean filters also improve your indoor air quality and can extend the life of your HVAC system. You should check your filter monthly, especially if you have pets, and replace it if it’s dirty.
8. Clean Vents and Ducts
Dust and debris can collect in your ducts and vents which restricts airflow and has a substantial negative impact on your HVAC system’s efficiency. Cleaning your vents is fairly simple, and you can do so by vacuuming debris from the vent covers or washing the vent covers with soap and water.
Cleaning ducts is a little more complicated. You need a high-powered vacuum to remove dust and a stiff brush to scrape away debris, which makes duct cleaning a job that’s generally best to leave to professionals.
9. Seal Ducts
Broken seals on your ductwork can mean that heat leaks into spaces behind your walls or above ceilings, which can unnecessarily increase your energy bills. Checking and fixing broken seals can prevent this from happening. Duct tape, ironically, is not the best sealing option. Effective duct sealing can involve several different materials and methods, as well as insulating ducts to prevent heat from escaping from the walls of the ducts. To achieve the best results, it’s best to turn to a professional.
10. HVAC Professional Cleaning and Maintenance
The best way to ensure that your HVAC system is ready for cold temperatures is to have your system professionally inspected, cleaned, and serviced. You should do so before winter, and again before summer to make sure both your heating and cooling are working properly and efficiently.
This process will save you the time and hassle of doing maintenance and testing yourself and will allow you to take care of any repairs that may be necessary.
An inspection, cleaning, and servicing will include (but not be limited to) the following:
- A filter check
- Air flow adjustments
- Leak check
- Cleaning and adjustments of all furnace components
- Drain inspections
- Lubrication of parts
- Cycle check
- Thermostat inspection
- Heat exchanger inspection
- Wiring test and adjustment
- Flue inspection and clearing
- Check of carbon monoxide levels
- Gas line check
- Sensor check
11. Don’t Close Vents and Doors of Unused Rooms
Many people think that closing the vents and doors of unused rooms reduces energy costs, but it can actually cause pressure to build in your ducts and make your furnace work harder. This pressure can even damage your HVAC system.
12. Use Your Ceiling Fans
Using your ceiling fans to distribute the heat around rooms can make your home feel warmer and allow you to turn down the thermostat. You just need to switch your ceiling fan to the clockwise direction.
13. Use a Space Heater
You can use space heaters to heat the rooms you use most and turn your thermostat down. Sometimes people do this at night, heating only the bedrooms. Be sure to get space heaters that have safety features and that are thermostatically controlled, and follow any safety directions.
14. Don’t Let Heat Escape Through Your Fireplace
When your fireplace is not in use, be sure to fully close the damper to keep out cold air. You can also install tempered glass doors and seal any gaps with caulk. If you don’t use your fireplace, you can plug and seal your chimney flue.
15. Use LED Lights
LED lights that are Energy Star rated use up to 75% less energy than incandescent lighting options. LED lights also last up to 25 times longer.
16. Unplug Devices Not in Use
Many appliances and devices continue to pull power even when not in use. Unplug items like small kitchen appliances, computers, your TV and cable box, and phone chargers.
17. Adjust Your Water Heater Temperature
Most water heaters are set at 140 degrees. Lowering the temperature to 120 degrees still provides enough hot water for most households while decreasing energy usage.
18. Water Heater Flush
A water heater flush involves the removal of sediment in your water heater that accumulates over time, potentially leading to inefficiency and damage. Flushing out the sediment can keep your water heater working at maximum efficiency. Signs that your water heater needs a flush include:
- Insufficient hot water
- Water discoloration
- Unusual tank noises
You can DIY a water heater flush by following these steps.
- Turn the water heater off
- Turn off the cold-water supply
- Allow the water to cool to avoid burning yourself. This is very important.
- Connect the drain valve to a garden hose
- Turn on any hot water faucet and leave it on until your flush is complete
- Open the drain valve and let the tank drain. Keep draining until you don’t see any sediment in the water. This may take a while.
- Turn on the cold-water supply and let it run until the water coming out of the hose is completely clear.
- Close the drain valve and remove the hose
- Let the tank fill
- Turn off the hot water faucet only when the water pressure is normal. This indicates that the tank is full.
- Turn on the water heater, wait for about a half hour, and then test the hot water.
While a DIY water heater flush can be done, having a professional handle it can uncover other issues that need to be repaired. Also, if there is considerable sediment build up, the flush can be more complicated. To avoid this and save your valuable time, the professional route is likely your best bet.
19. Insulate Your Water Heater
Insulating your water heater can reduce heat loss and save you money. To determine if your water heater needs insulation, you need to check its R-value. If it’s under 24, you need insulation. You can use a water heater blanket, spray foam insulation, or reflective insulation. You should check with a professional to see which type of insulation will work best for your water heater.
20. Consider a Tankless Water Heater
A tankless water heater provides hot water as you need it. It doesn’t have a tank to store hot water, but instead heats water on demand, providing continuous hot water that doesn’t run out. When you turn on a hot water faucet, water travels to your heat exchanger to heat the water which then flows through your pipes.
Tankless water heaters are somewhat more expensive than tank water heaters, but they last about 20 years while tank water heaters last about 10. Additionally, tankless water heaters heat water on demand, providing greater energy efficiency. Tankless water heaters also require less space than tank water heaters.
21. Consider a Heating System Upgrade
Furnaces become less efficient over time, so if you have an older furnace, you may want to consider investing in a new, more efficient model. When choosing a furnace, you should consider both budget and efficiency. You may pay more upfront for a highly efficient system, but you’ll save money on your energy bills in the long run.
Another option is to switch to a different type of heating system. Two common options are boilers and heat pumps.
Boilers are an efficient heating system option, and they tend to last for a long time when they receive proper maintenance. Boilers are filled with water from a cold supply line, and then the water is heated by a gas burner or electric heating element. Then the heated water or steam then travels through pipes to radiators located throughout the home. Then the water returns to the boiler to be heated again.
Bolers have several advantages.
Boilers use less energy than forced air furnaces. Electric boilers tend to be more efficient than gas boilers. Boilers can last for 30 to 50 years, unlike forced air furnaces that last 15 to 20 years.
Since boilers don’t use ductwork, there’s no dust or mold buildup that gets into your home’s air. Boilers also create a consistently comfortable environment, since radiators distribute heat evenly through rooms.
Heat pumps are an increasingly popular choice. They are energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and provide both heating and cooling.
Although heat pump technology was invented in the 1850s, heat pumps didn’t make it into homes in the U.S. until the 1940s, and didn’t go mainstream until the 1970s when people were looking for alternatives to fossil fuels. Their energy efficiency and ability to both heat and cool with a singular source of heat filled a gap in the heating and cooling industry by providing homeowners with a better option.
Over time, heat pump technology has evolved, making heat pumps an even more efficient and environmentally friendly option. Now their popularity is exploding as people grow more and more conscious of climate change and the health of the environment.
Heat pumps work by redistributing air rather than heating or cooling it using energy. In the winter, the heat pump captures warm air from the outside to transfer it in. In the summer, the heat pump captures warm air from the inside and transfers it out.
These systems don’t create ashes, smoke, or other harmful debris that you need to clean from your air, making them ideal for keeping your home safe and comfortable. They also don’t contain hot surfaces that can burn you or your family.
Additionally, these systems dehumidify your home. This is great for the summer when the air becomes heavy with moisture.
Heat pumps can be ducted or ductless. Ducted heat pumps distribute air via ducts, while ductless heat pumps use wall mounted units, called mini-splits, to distribute the air.
Energy Savings Means Money in Your Pocket
Following some simple energy saving tips can save you a considerable amount of money over time. Some tasks you can do yourself, while others require the advice and assistance of professionals.
TR Miller Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing has been serving the needs of suburban Chicago residents since 2008. We are a family-owned company, so we understand the needs and concerns of our customers. Our certified technicians and plumbers are highly trained in the maintenance, cleaning, repairs, and replacement of heating systems and water heaters, and our entire team is dedicated to ensuring your family’s comfort and safety.
We’d be happy to listen to your energy savings needs and review your options with you. Give us a call today!
