While daytime temperatures are still mild, nights are getting cooler and cooler, which means that winter is well on its way. It may feel as though the days of high energy costs thanks to the constant use of air conditioning all summer long are finally behind us. But just as soon as they are gone, high heating bills follow close behind.
If you dread seeing your energy bill climb month after month, know that there is hope. With a few simple changes and a little help from HVAC services Las Vegas, you can lower your heating costs without spending the winter shivering in your home. Keep reading to learn 8 tips for cutting your energy bills this winter.
1. Unblock Your Vents
If furniture or curtains are blocking your vents, you’ll be paying for heat without reaping its full benefit. Take the time to walk through your home and check to make sure that any and all vents on your floors or ceilings aren’t blocked.
Now is a great time to give them a thorough cleaning as well. This will help to cut down on the dust and debris blowing through your home.
2. Check Your Door Seals
Seals around your windows and doors break down over time. As a result, you may lose both heat and air conditioning out of small, almost invisible cracks and gaps around your windows and door frames.
If you suspect that you might have a draft, check your seals, and consider replacing them.
While replacing the seals can cut down on the heat you lose from your doors and windows, depending on the age of these, this might not be enough. Upgrading to newer, more efficient windows can help to lower your heating bills and keep you warm all winter long.
3. Let In the Sun
While temperatures may drop in Las Vegas during the winter months, we often continue to see plenty of sun. Let all that natural sunlight work for you by keeping your windows open during the day. This will help to heat up your rooms, reducing the amount of heat you need to stay warm during the day.
If you aren’t going to be during the middle of the day, consider turning your heat down. The sunlight will help to warm your home some, and you can turn your heat back up again when you get home.
4. Close Off Rooms You Aren’t Using
Do you have spare bedrooms, bathrooms, or maybe a basement that you don’t use often? When these rooms aren’t in use, consider closing them off to keep from paying to heat areas of your home that you aren’t using.
To do this, start by closing the vents in these rooms. Then, close the doors to those rooms. This will help to keep your heat in the rooms that you are actively using.
5. Take Advantage of Your Ceiling Fans
To help combat the summer heat, your Vegas home likely has a ceiling fan or two. But what many homeowners don’t realize is that ceiling fans serve a purpose during the winter months as well.
In the summer, your ceiling fan will be set to run counterclockwise. But in the winter, you can reverse your ceiling fan to run clockwise instead. This pulls cold air up towards your ceiling, which displaces the warm air that rises there, and pushes it down into your rooms. Keep your fan at a low speed to keep your rooms warm and avoid pushing cold air down on yourself.
6. Schedule Your Annual HVAC Service
The last thing you want to do is turn on your HVAC unit on the first cold day of winter only to find that it will only blow cold air. Scheduling annual HVAC service visits will not only help prevent this but can also help to lower your energy bill.
An HVAC unit that’s running properly will be more efficient. Your HVAC pros will help to spot any leaks in your system that can cause your bill to rise, as well as to clean out any dirt or debris that can get in the way of your unit functioning properly.
If your HVAC unit is more than 10 years old, you should also consider an upgrade. A newer, more efficient HVAC system can help to drastically reduce your heating bills, paying for the upgrade over time!
7. Change Your Air Filters
Another simple way to lower your heating bills, and something that your HVAC specialist can help with during your annual service appointment, is replacing your air filters.
Replacing your air filters every few months can help reduce allergens and dust in your home. It also keeps these contaminants out of your HVAC unit. Over time, this will save you money because it will keep the unit operating properly longer. But replacing your filters also keeps your HVAC unit from working as hard to warm your home, which can lower your heating bills in the short term.
8. Invest in a Smart Thermostat
We’ve already mentioned that lowering your heat while away from home in the middle of the day can lower your heating bill. But a smart thermostat can help take this tip one step further,
A smart thermostat will learn your habits and routines, then raise and lower your heating accordingly. This means less money spent running your heat when you aren’t using it. For instance, your smart thermostat might lower your heat at night when you’re fast asleep and warm in your bed, and raise it right before you’re due home from work so you arrive to a nice and toasty space without paying to heat it all day long.
Let HVAC Services Las Vegas Get Your Home Ready for Winter
If rising heating bills have you dreading winter, these tips can help. From scheduling your annual HVAC service appointment to unblocking vents and changing your air filters, these simple tips can go a long way towards keeping your heating bills in check without leaving your family shivering.
Ready to make sure that your HVAC unit is ready for winter? Call to schedule your next service appointment today!
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