7 Better Ways to Save Energy During the Winter Season

According to  HVAC maintenance  experts, with winter fast approaching, more and more homeowners are beginning to prepare their homes so they’ll remain warm and comfortable throughout the season while allowing them to save energy at the same time. This is especially true for homeowners who live in areas that experience snow and ice during the winter. Often, homeowners do this by installing a new heating unit, tuning up their furnace or even replacing their roof, siding and/or windows. However, there are also homeowners who often ask if they should turn off their heat at night during winter to save energy. Surprisingly enough, however, experts actually say that you shouldn’t turn off your heat during the winter. Instead, you can simply turn it down at night to conserve energy. 

When it comes to the topic of turning your heat off at night during the winter season, experts claim that there are two reasons why you shouldn’t do so. First of all, it can make your home uncomfortable, as doing so can cause temperatures around the house to drop faster than usual. This can cause you to lose sleep on a daily basis. In addition, it can also cause damage to your pipes, because if you turn off the heat in your home the plumbing could freeze and eventually burst, flooding your home and forcing you to spend thousands on repairs. As such, one should never turn off the heat at night just to save energy in the winter. In fact, there are actually a few other ways you can save energy during the season.

In this article, the  HVAC repair  experts of R.A. Biel Plumbing & Heating list seven better ways you can save energy during the winter season.

Take advantage of the sunlight –  One way you can save energy during the winter season without having to turn your heating off at night is by taking advantage of the sun and its warmth during the day. Naturally, during the daytime your window curtains should be open to let light and warmth into your home, especially the south facing ones. This allows in heat that can keep your house warm at night so long as you remember to close the curtains again when it gets dark to prevent your house from losing the heat it gained via the windows.

Install a programmable thermostat –  According to  air duct cleaning  and HVAC installation pros, you can also save energy during the winter season by installing a programmable thermostat in your home. This is because, with a programmable thermostat, you can set it as low as is comfortable when you’re at home during the day before setting it to automatically reduce the heat at a certain time of night or when you’re away. This allows you to better configure the temperature around your house without accidentally risking or causing a spike in your energy bills.

Find and seal leaks –  On the other hand, if you think there are air leaks around your house, experts strongly recommend that you find and seal them with caulking or weatherstripping as soon as possible so you can save energy during the winter season without having to turn your heating off. By so doing, you can prevent hot air from escaping your home and causing an increase in the season’s heating bills. This also applies to any of your windows that are experiencing drafts but you can’t replace at the moment.

Install a ductless mini-split heating system –  Meanwhile, if it’s clear that your heating is uneven throughout your home, consider having an  HVAC maintenance  expert install a ductless mini-split heating system in the house. That way, you can better control the temperature in individual rooms or spaces for increased energy efficiency for the winter season.

Add energy efficient holiday lights –  The winter season also hearkens the arrival of the holidays, and as such it’s understandable if you want to put up a few holiday lights around your home to give it a more festive flair. However, as you no doubt know, holiday lights consume energy and add to your energy bills. With that in mind, be sure to only install LED holiday lights for the winter to minimize your home’s energy usage during the holidays.

Use the fireplace –  In addition to the aforementioned methods,  HVAC repair  pros also recommend that you start using your fireplace during the winter season if you’re trying to be more energy efficient at this time of the year. This is because using a fireplace can help reduce heat loss around your home, allowing you to lower your thermostat and your reliance on your heating system during the winter. Just remember to close the door leading into the room when the fire is kindled so the heat is kept in one place. If you have no plans for using your fireplace, on the other hand, consider sealing the flue, as it can allow hot air to escape your home.

Check your heating system’s efficiency –  Finally, you should also check the efficiency of your heating system, especially if your home is more than a few decades old. According to heating experts, this is due to the fact that if you live in an older home, there’s a possibility that its heating system is inefficient and faulty, which will cause you to use extra energy just to heat up your home properly. This in turn can cost you a significant amount in the long run, and as such, it’s prudent to have the heating system inspected before winter even arrives. This way, a professional can determine if you’ll need to have it repaired or replaced to ensure significant energy savings for the winter.

If you’re planning to install a new HVAC unit for your home before the winter season starts, simply turn to R.A. Biel Plumbing & Heating. After 32 years in the HVAC and home improvement industry, we’ve steadily become one of the leading experts to turn to when it comes to  air duct cleaning  and HVAC installation services, and we won’t let you down! Not only are we committed to bringing you nothing but the best products that the market has to offer, we’re also dedicated to giving homeowners like you excellent customer service! Give us a call at (505) 327-7755 or fill out our  contact form  to get a FREE estimate on new installations today!

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