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save on winter heat bill

Strategies to Save On Your Winter Heat Bill

Reducing Heating Costs During the Cold Months 

Heating your home is expensive. That first heating bill each winter can be an unpleasant surprise. By the season’s end you’re more savvy about cutting down on your heating use—but this year, why not practice good habits from the start? 

A little bit of effort and know-how can help keep your heating bills reasonably low, even in the coldest months. 

Tips for Efficiently Heating Your Home

Hoping to maintain manageable heating expenses this winter? These are our most useful tips for efficient heating system use. 

Dress Appropriately for the Weather

Just like your dad used to tell you: if you’re cold, put on a sweater. Wearing warm layers while you’re indoors is a simple yet critical tip for requiring less furnace use. Plus, the cold air outdoors will be less shocking if you haven’t been overusing your heater indoors. 

Keep Windows Uncovered in the Daytime

Sunlight coming through your windows provides extra heat for your home in the winter. Don’t block out those helpful sunshine rays—keep your blinds up and curtains open. 

Along with the extra heat, welcoming natural light into your home is a bright and pleasant choice during the wintertime, when days are short and nights are long. Plus, you can turn off the lights in naturally-lit rooms, allowing for additional electric bill savings. 

Close Vents in Unused Rooms

If there are rooms in your home that you don’t frequently use, close the heating vents. Close the doors, too, and lay a blanket along the bottom of the door if you want to be extra efficient. Taking these simple steps results in a greater concentration of hot air in the rooms where you spend most of your time. 

Just remember to maintain sufficiently warm temperatures in rooms with pipes or plumbing to prevent pipes from freezing. 

Lower Your Thermostat When You’re Out of the House or Asleep

When you’re out of the house or asleep, there’s no need to fully heat your home. Turn the temperature down to the low 60s when you leave home and when you go to bed. From a temperature around 62°, you’ll be able to quickly restore a comfortable heating level when you come home or wake up in the morning. 

Change Your Filters

Clogged filters interrupt airflow. When your filter is clogged, your furnace has to work extra hard to distribute heated air. Additionally, dust and allergens are more likely to flow through your vents, worsening your indoor air quality. 

Replace old and clogged filters with new ones. Doing so is an easy way to improve your furnace’s efficiency. Your indoor air quality also improves when clogged filters are replaced with clean ones. 

Your new filters will allow heat to travel more efficiently through your home, putting less strain on the heating system equipment. 

Use a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats can be automated to change temperatures at different times during the day. This makes it possible to use your heating system more efficiently without having to constantly make manual thermostat adjustments.

Program your smart thermostat to a lower heating demand while you’re at work and while you’re sleeping. Some systems can even be controlled remotely through smartphone apps, allowing for more flexibility and more efficient system use. 

Upgrade Your Old HVAC System

If you’re using an old furnace or a forced air system, it might be time for a replacement. Furnaces typically have a 10-15 year lifespan and begin showing signs of age and decline after a decade of use. 

Furnace Upgrades for Idaho Homeowners

Practicing energy-efficient heat use at home is a great way to save some money on your utility bills. However, if your furnace is old and no longer running well, no amount of good habits will keep your heating costs down. 

If it’s time for a new furnace, Advanced Heating & Cooling is ready to help. We provide comprehensive HVAC service, including heater repair and replacement, for residents in Idaho’s Treasure Valley region. We serve the entire Boise area, including Caldwell, Eagle, Meridian, and Nampa.  

Our technicians service all major heater brands. Whatever model you prefer, we can install, repair, or maintain it. Contact us ASAP to make sure your home will stay warm and cozy this winter.

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