3 Ways to Keep HVAC Energy Bills Low in Winter
According to statistics, heating and cooling account for a large portion of most household's expenses. It can be attributed to the high cost of energy used in both commercial and residential applications. Add this to the increase in home appliances that require electricity to operate, then you begin you realise how much money the average home spends on energy bills. Luckily, modern heating and cooling systems are designed to operate efficiently and save you money. However, you can still make heating and cooling appliances work more efficiently, as highlighted in this article.
Seal Windows and Doors
If you feel that you have to keep adjusting the thermostat upwards during the day, then chances are that you are losing heat through the windows and doors. Notably, the heat might it finds a way out through spaces in the windows and door frames. It often goes unnoticed by homeowners, and they end up paying a lot in energy bills. Therefore, sealing windows and doors helps trap heat inside the house, thereby keeping the interior warm for longer. It eliminates the need to adjust the thermostat upwards continually. Remember that this includes bathroom doors because you will likely use less hot water if the heat does not escape from the room.
Use Underground Piping
If your heating system were ducted, then underground piping would go a long way in improving the efficiency of your setup. It is because atmospheric temperatures keep fluctuating, and this affects the temperatures inside the ducts. Therefore, the heating system has to work extra hard to keep producing warm air. However, burying the pipes underground allows the heating system to work efficiently. Why? See, underground soils, especially below 6 feet, maintain a constant temperature throughout the day. Therefore, air and water flowing through the underground pipes only need minimal energy to raise the temperature. Consequently, it lowers heating bills considerably.
Layer Your Body
HVAC systems are designed to adjust accordingly as temperatures drop. It ensures that internal temperatures are kept constant. However, applying this approach can be quite expensive, especially during the winter season when temperatures fall below sub-zero levels. Adding a layer of clothes on your body is an inexpensive way to prevent overworking your heater and saves money in the process. By layering up, you only need a small amount of heat from your furnace. You will end up saving hundreds of dollars every winter season, and the best part is that you do not have to invest in additional sweaters or blankets.