365 Kool can help you decide whether your household is ready for a brand-new furnace installation. To help you cut back on your monthly heating bills, below are a number of energy saving tips.
As the summer season transitions into fall, you may be looking forward to the chilly days that are ahead. Before you fire up your HVAC system for the first time this winter, however, you will want to make sure that your heating system installation is ready to heat your home efficiently.
Insulate Your Windows
The windows around your home can be a major source of heat loss. If you want to reduce your heating bills this winter, look for smart strategies that will help you to improve your window’s insulation. If you are not ready to replace your existing windows with energy efficient models, you can protect the glass by installing heavier window treatments. Insulated window treatments can go a long way toward trapping heat inside of your home.
Add Insulation Elsewhere
Improperly insulated attics and floor openings could also cause astronomical heating bills. “In winter, heat flows directly from all heated living spaces to adjacent unheated attics, garages, basements, and even to the outdoors,” the Department of Energy notes. It can also move indirectly through ceilings, floors, and walls. And if any heat is lost, your heating system has to pick up the slack. But if you properly insulate your home, that can provide a resistance to — and thereby decrease — this flow of heat.
Install Energy-Efficient Doors and Windows
Insulated, energy-efficient doors and windows stop the cool air from easing in and dropping your home’s temperature. (Insulated garage doors are also ideal if you spend a lot of time in the garage or open the door frequently to retrieve items).
Consider investing in wood or aluminum models to keep the cold air outside and lower your heating bill. In fact, installing exterior low-e storm windows can save you up to 33% annually on heating and cooling bills, per the Department of Energy.
Purchase a Programmable Thermostat
Invest in a programmable thermostat to control when and how hard your heating unit works, and to regulate the temperature in your home even when you’re away. It’s also a cost-efficient way to curb heating costs, and installation is a breeze.
Programmable thermostats start around $15 and go up from there, depending on the brand and features of the unit.
Quick note: The Department of Energy recommends “turning your thermostat back 10% to 15% for 8 hours” to lower your heating and cooling bills by up to 10% annually
Switch to a Programmable Thermostat
If you currently use a conventional thermostat to regulate the temperature in your home, now is a fantastic time to make the switch to a programmable model. A programmable thermostat will regulate the temperature in your property, whether you are at home, on the job, or traveling. By providing your furnace with precise temperature regulation, your programmable thermostat can help you cut back on the cost of your heating bills.
Install a Brand New Furnace
When your furnace reaches the end of its lifespan, it may start to rapidly lose efficiency. Before the start of the winter months, talk to your HVAC contractor about whether your home is eligible for a new furnace installation. A typical furnace has a life expectancy of about 15 years. If your furnace is more than a couple of decades old, you should start to seriously consider a brand new heating system installation.