As the seasons change and the colder months come in, we spend more time indoors to stay warm with our family. It’s expected that your energy bills will go up a bit when the season starts, but should level out. If your bill starts to skyrocket for some reason, there could be energy-zapping habits that are causing it. Besides the energy bill going up, your environmental footprint can also be impacted. There are a number of energy-zapping habits and it’s important to know how to stop them.
1. Heating the Home When it’s Empty
Sometimes we forget to turn off the heater when we leave the home and it’s only warming up an empty house. Your energy costs will go up and a part of it is from just heating an empty home. If you leave your home and no one is there, you can adjust your thermostat at a lower temperature. Having a programmable or a smart thermostat can be another easy way to lower the heat and then set it to warm before you come home.
2. Ventilation Leaks
Energy can start zapping away if ventilation leaks around windows or doors are left alone. Cool air from the outside will come into your home and make your HVAC system work harder than it should. To save on energy, make sure your home is well-insulated and to have a professional HVAC technician come and check as well.
3. Closing the Blinds During the Day
As the days get shorter and chillier, we start to retreat to our home and close the outside with blinds. The issue is that the sunlight can warm up your home without needing to use the heater during the day. Closing the blinds and not letting sunlight in can increase the energy bills because of using your heater all day. During the day open up your blinds to let sunshine in to warm up your home. As well as getting some Vitamin D that we don’t really get as much during the winter.
4. Don’t Leave Hardwood Floors Bare
Having hardwood or tile floors can be beautiful in a home, but it can also get very cold in the winter. Having rugs on the floor can add insulation to the floors and bring warmth to the room. Adding insulation this way can save you money because of the added warmth and not having to use the heater all day. During the hot summer you can always remove the rugs to keep your home cool.
5. Skipping out on Maintenance
Sometimes we skip out on HVAC maintenance because of having a busy life and not having time to have it done. Even with having a busy life your HVAC system can have wear and tear if not maintained properly. Your energy bills start to go up and at worst your HVAC system might break down. Scheduling a bi-annual maintenance with a professional HVAC technician can ensure that your HVAC system is working efficiently and not wasting energy.
Saving electricity during the winter time will help save you on your energy bills and will keep your home comfortable all season long. Understanding these energy zapping habits can help you fix the issue right away and save you money in the long run. For any questions or concerns about your heating system, our professional team at Omni Air HVAC can help you with all of your heating needs. We want you to be comfortable this winter and are ready to help whenever you need. Give us a call today!