It’s not uncommon for the final months of the year to show the highest consumption of energy. As the weather gets colder and the nights get longer, we often turn on our lights and heating systems sooner during the day. This increase in energy usage typically means an increase in our monthly utility bill.
With proper preparation, it is possible to save money and stay warm all season long. Several tips include: setting the thermostat to 68 degrees when you’re home and lowering the thermostat 10-15 degrees when you are away, investing in a programmable thermostat such as the Nest will save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling costs, checking for gaps and cracks and caulking them when you see them prevents heat from escaping, installing thermal curtains and upgrading your windows or HVAC system.
Equally important is keeping your heating system in good working order to maximize efficiency and reliability. Our heating system expert tells us the best thing you can do to keep your system running smoothly is change the filters often. A clean system is reliable and efficient. If you haven’t been changing the filters, investing in a cleaning will greatly improve efficiency, save you money on your bills and increase reliability.
Stay warm this winter and save a few dollars while you’re at it.