In this article…
- How To Save Energy On Your HVAC This Winter: 9 Simple Tips
- Maintaining Your HVAC System And Saving Energy Through Winter
As the holiday season approaches and temperatures continue to drop day by day, staying warm and keeping your family comfortable is the number one priority.
However, it’s no secret that constantly running your furnace costs a lot of energy and money, and prices continue to increase.
Because of this, you want to learn more about conserving energy while maintaining your home’s comfort level all winter.
Even with below-freezing temperatures, saving money on your energy bills doesn’t have to be a difficult feat.
Simple adjustments like programming your thermostat, regularly changing air filters, and properly circulating air throughout your home improves the efficiency of your HVAC system while also conserving energy and lowering overall bills.
Here at DEETS, we’ve been the trusted heating and cooling experts for homeowners in the Northwestern Pennsylvania region since 2001, providing you with comprehensive HVAC solutions no matter the issue.
We understand how expensive your energy bills can get, especially during the heart of winter. Finding any way you can to conserve energy not only saves you money but can also extend the lifespan of your HVAC system.
This article will detail nine ways to save energy on your furnace this winter, including properly insulating your home, sealing any cracks around windows and doors, and more.
After reading, you’ll be well-prepared to adjust your HVAC routine accordingly to stay warm while also conserving energy.
How To Save Energy On Your HVAC This Winter: 9 Simple Tips
Preserving energy on your HVAC system this winter doesn’t have to be hard or take up hours of your time.
Many of these money-saving tips can be completed in a few minutes, and though the others may require more energy and effort, their results are significant in improving your system’s efficiency and longevity.
Let’s look at the top nine ways to conserve energy on your HVAC system while maintaining comfort and coziness in your home all winter long.
1. Properly Adjust Thermostat Settings
Invest in a smart thermostat and program it to adjust to your schedule when home and away is one of the easiest ways to save energy on your furnace.
Set your thermostat to a lower temperature when you’re not at home and at night to save energy while maintaining comfort.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a programmable thermostat can automatically reduce the heating by about 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours a day, saving around 10% a year on your heating bills.
Investing in a smart thermostat that can learn your schedule and temperature preferences and adjust the heat on its own will help conserve energy without any manual input after initial setup, making it easy and effective.
2. Close Vents in Unused Rooms
Your HVAC system and ductwork consists of a receiving vent, or vents, in each room that transports heated and conditioned air into the room.
Closing vents in unoccupied or rarely used rooms can redirect heat to areas that need it more, reducing the demand from your furnace.
However, it’s important not to completely close the vent, as this can create unnecessary pressure on your HVAC system and potentially damage it.
3. Regular Filter Changes
Inspecting and changing your air filters regularly is one of the simplest tasks you can perform to maintain your HVAC system and improve its efficiency.
Your furnace’s air filter is essential for maintaining the airflow and filtering out dust, dander, and debris from your system. A dirty filter restricts airflow, forcing the furnace to work harder, which consumes more energy and can lead to costly repairs or a shorter lifespan for your system.
- 1” air filters should be changed every 1-2 months.
- 2” filters should be changed every 3-4 months.
- Media filters should be inspected and changed every 6-9 months, though some can last 12 months.
4. Seal Drafts Around Windows, Doors, and Vents
Drafty windows and doors can be a silent culprit in decreasing your furnace’s efficiency and maintaining your home’s comfort, especially if you live in an older home.
Check for leaks around windows, doors, and vents that might let cold air in. When drafts are present, your furnace has to work even harder to maintain the temperature in your home.
Sealing these leaks with weather stripping, caulking, or insulation not only prevents heat loss but also reduces the strain on your furnace.
5. Check and Upgrade Insulation
Your home’s insulation is essential to keep the warm air in and the cold air out, so if your home and HVAC system are not properly insulated, it will take much more energy and money to heat your home.
Ensure your home, especially the attic and basement, is well-insulated. Insulation helps maintain the internal temperature, reducing the need for continuous heating and thereby conserving energy.
If your insulation is old, worn, and battered, consider professionally repairing and replacing damaged insulation before winter comes to ensure you’re properly protected.
6. Turn Ceiling Fans Clockwise
Using ceiling fans in winter might seem counterintuitive since fans are typically associated with cooling. However, most ceiling fans have a switch to reverse the blade direction.
By turning the blades clockwise and operating the fan on a low setting, the fan pulls cool air up and pushes warm air, which naturally rises to the ceiling, down into the room.
This helps distribute heat more evenly, which can improve comfort and potentially allow you to turn down the thermostat, saving on heating costs and putting less strain on your furnace.
7. Regular Maintenance On Your Furnace
Regular maintenance is critical for ensuring your furnace operates efficiently throughout the seasons.
Biannual tune-ups for your furnace ensure it’s operating at peak efficiency. Regular maintenance can catch issues before they become major problems and help extend the life of your furnace.
Tune-ups should involve checking the furnace’s filter system, thermostat calibration, and all electrical components and controls to ensure they are operating safely and effectively.
Maintenance not only helps to extend the lifespan of your furnace but also ensures it’s operating at optimal efficiency, which can greatly reduce your energy consumption and lower your bills.
8. Inspect Your Ductwork
Your ductwork plays a crucial role in your HVAC system and is responsible for transporting air to and from your home and through your furnace.
Inspect ductwork for leaks or damage and seal them to prevent warm air from leaking into your attic, wasting energy from your furnace.
Properly sealed and insulated ducts can significantly affect energy consumption and comfort, especially if your ducts are old and need repairing or replacing.
You can repair minor duct leaks yourself with aluminum foil tape and masting glue or hire a professional to repair or replace large damage in your ductwork.
9. Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Equipment
If your furnace is more than 20 years old and you’re constantly spending on repairs, replacing it with a newer, energy-efficient system will save you money in the long run and significantly improve the overall comfort of your home.
Energy Star-certified furnaces, for example, are more efficient at converting fuel into heat and require less energy to operate. Modern furnaces also have newer technological features that provide more precise control over the amount of energy needed and used to heat your home, further optimizing energy consumption and reducing costs.
Replacing your old furnace before winter will improve the efficiency of your home’s heating, reduce energy bills in the long run, and keep you and your family comfortable for years to come.
Maintaining Your HVAC System And Saving Energy Through Winter
Now that you know nine simple tips to conserve energy through your HVAC this winter, you’re ready to prepare your home before temperatures drop and keep your home safe and warm all winter long.
Preserving energy through your furnace not only helps to cut costs through your energy bills but also improves the efficiency and lifespan of your HVAC unit.
By programming your thermostat, closing air vents in unused rooms, regularly changing filters, and following the other energy-saving tips from this article, you can significantly increase the efficiency of your furnace and potentially save hundreds on energy bills.
It’s important to remember that if you have an older furnace (over 15-20 years old), it doesn’t perform as efficiently as it used to. This means the unit requires more energy to produce the same output, costing you more year over year.
At DEETS, we’re here to educate you on all you need to know regarding your HVAC, from energy-saving tips to when you need a full replacement.
But we aren’t here to convince you to replace your furnace if you don’t truly need a new one. We’re here to help guide you to the right solution to maintain your home’s comfort and make a confident decision.
So, if you’ve noticed a decline in your furnace’s efficiency and have been spending on constant repairs, you may be wondering if it’s time to replace your entire HVAC system and if it will be worth it.
Check out this article that compares the cost of common furnace repairs to the cost of a full replacement and when replacing your furnace is right for you. Then, you’ll have a better idea of whether it’s time for a full HVAC system replacement and if it is a worthy investment.
