Temperatures are quickly dropping all across the United States, which has countless homeowners relying more heavily on their heating systems.
Although everyone should prioritize their property’s comfort, rising energy costs have made balancing warmth with affordability a lot tougher this year. The good news is that lowering your heating expenses this fall doesn’t mean you have to turn your thermostat down and bundle up at night.
Below we’ll be detailing a handful of tips oriented around HVAC maintenance, smart thermostat adjustments, and some cost-effective improvements that can have a tangible impact on your energy efficiency!
Scheduling HVAC Maintenance Appointments Before Cold Weather Shows Back Up
One of the easiest and most effective ways to prepare your home for the fall and winter months is simply making sure your HVAC system is properly operating before temperatures truly plunge in December.
We recently interviewed a top-rated HVAC contractor in Salt Lake City Utah at Apex Clean Air and learned how both furnaces and heat pumps typically struggle with issues like worn components, restricted airflow, and various other performance dilemmas when they don’t receive seasonal maintenance.
Professional HVAC inspections will be able to pinpoint lingering issues before they actually develop into an emergency repair situation. Depending on your system, your maintenance appointment this fall might include services like:
Checking system controls
Inspecting electrical connections
Cleaning accessible components
Evaluating heating performance
It’s also a good idea to check your home’s air filters this time of year, because dirty filters can restrict airflow and force your system to work a lot harder than it’s supposed to.
Adjusting Your Thermostat To Match Your Household’s Daily Routine
Your system’s thermostat settings also have a huge influence on your property’s overall heating demand. This is why instead of maintaining the same temperature all day long, homeowners with smart thermostats should adjust their settings to reflect when they’re home, asleep or away.
It’s great how smart thermostats have made this type of customization easier than ever in terms creating daily schedules. Slightly lowering indoor temperatures while you’re at work or sleeping can drastically reduce energy use, all while not requiring you to make manual adjustments at all.
It’s also important to keep factors like your property’s heating equipment, insulation, and personal comfort needs in mind when developing your ideal settings. The key here is to choose settings that balance efficiency and comfort, which is why it’s a good idea to consult your HVAC technicians if you’re not quite sure how your system might respond to daily temperature changes.
Improving Insulation & Sealing Drafts
Even highly efficient HVAC systems can potentially waste a lot of energy when air is escaping properties through gaps around doors and windows. Drafts can also create abnormal cold spots, which might tempt people into raising their thermostat settings.
This is why it’s a good idea to inspect the weatherstripping around your exterior doors this time of year, and homeowners should also be on the lookout for any noticeable air leaks near window frames. If you do find any issues, be sure to caulk appropriate gaps and replace any worn weatherstripping as necessary.
Your home’s insulation is equally as important, because it’ll slow heat transfer and help maintain more consistent indoor temperatures. The good news is home energy assessments can easily identify which specific improvements might be necessary at your property!
Checking Airflow & Keeping Vents Clear
Rugs, curtains, furniture, and other storage items often accidentally block supply vents and return-air grills. When a home’s airflow becomes restricted, it’s common for certain rooms to feel strangely colder than others.
This is why homeowners should do a thorough walkthrough this time of year and make sure that all returns and vents are unobstructed. Be sure to look for disconnected sections or obvious damages, especially around crawl spaces, unfinished basements and attics.
Poorly insulated or leaky ducts often contribute to substantial energy losses, and this is especially the case when they run through unconditioned household spaces. Consistent temperature variations between rooms are a common red flag indicating a need for professional ductwork inspections and airflow tests.
Strategically Using Natural Sunlight & Window Coverings
Your household’s daily habits can also help retain warmth. This includes opening curtains or blinds on sunny fall afternoons to take advantage of natural heat.
Heavy curtains often reduce heat loss through windows, but their general effectiveness can depend on the window’s design and the covering’s fit. It’s also important to keep window treatments away from heating equipment and follow fire safety clearances.
Using draft stoppers in rooms that don’t get a lot of sunlight can also help reduce cold-air infiltration this time of year, and these small adjustments are often a great way to complement your other larger efficiency improvements.
Stay Comfortable This Fall While Spending Less On Heating Bills
Lowering your heating costs this fall starts with thoroughly understanding how your home and HVAC system work together.
The above tips are just the beginning in terms of how you can strategically build the comfort and efficiency of your property this season, but everyone has to start somewhere! Instead of sacrificing warmth, consider focusing on energy reductions to maintain it.
Even just a little preparation this time of year prior to winter’s arrival can help you plan ahead toward managing heating costs, improving indoor comfort, and going into the coldest months of the year with a lot more confidence!
