In the typical home, a substantial amount of energy is wasted during the heating season. Fortunately, there are a number of simple steps you can take to lower energy bills during the holiday season and through the rest of the winter. Try some of these suggestions:
- Adjust the fan-blade rotation on your ceiling fans to “winter mode.” (The switch is probably located on the fan housing.) When the blades are rotating clockwise, they blow air upward, which displaces warm air that collects near the ceiling. The warm air moves out toward the walls and then down into the room where people can feel it. The thermostat, detecting the warmer air, won’t kick on your heating system as frequently.
- Open curtains during sunny days to let in warming solar rays, heating up a room by several degrees. When the sun goes down, close the curtains or blinds, adding a layer of insulation during cold winter evenings and nights.
- If you don’t have one already, consider investing in a programmable thermostat. Set the temperature 8-10 degrees lower during times when the house is empty for several hours, such as days when home occupants are at work or school. Program cooler temperatures at night when everybody’s asleep.
- Seal air leaks in your home’s outer perimeter with caulk, spray foam or weatherstripping, depending on the type and size of hole or crack. A professional energy assessment will help detect where air is leaking.
- Add insulation in places where it’s lacking (an energy assessment will show these areas as well). In most homes, attic insulation can provide ample energy savings, reducing the amount of heat that escapes into the attic from your living spaces or escapes through the roof.
- If you’ve neglected to schedule a preseason heating system maintenance inspection, there’s no time like the present. Consider signing up for a maintenance tune up plan to ensure this becomes a scheduled routine.
- Replace old incandescent holiday light-bulbs with LED bulbs.
For more advice on obtaining lower energy bills in your Eastern North Carolina home, please contact us at Jackson & Sons Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Eastern North Carolina (including Wayne, Johnston, Greene, Lenoir, Pitt and Duplin Counties) about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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