How To Lower Heating Costs in Wedgefield, FL

Winters in Wedgefield, FL, are typically pretty mild. But that doesn’t mean we don’t get our share of chilly days. During a particularly cold stretch of time, you might be worried about your heating bill skyrocketing, especially if you have an older system or if it’s been a while since you got a tune-up. To help you out, the team at Altman’s Cooling & Heating is here to discuss some strategies for how to lower heating costs during the winter. 

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Seal Air Leaks

Did you know the average home loses about a quarter to a third of its energy through cracks in windows and doors? It’s true, and those cracks and drafts can become extremely noticeable on a cold day. To save money, you can go around your home with a caulking gun to seal drafts near any exterior doors and windows. You can also get a similar effect by weatherstripping the bottoms of exterior doors. These methods make your home more airtight, so you lose less heat energy to the outdoors. 

Insulation Upgrade

Your attic is often the first line of defense between you and heat loss, so make sure it’s properly insulated. Depending on how old your current insulation is, you may want to replace it. Many older homes in Wedgefield might still use cellulose or mineral wool, both of which are inferior compared to modern materials. Switching to fiberglass insulation, for example, can save you between 10% and 20% on your annual heating bills. The best places to replace insulation are in your attic and any crawl space. 

Change Your Air Filters

An extremely simple method how to lower heating costs is changing your air filters regularly. Air filters become clogged over time and restrict your system’s airflow. The weaker the airflow, the harder your system has to work and the more power it uses. The result is your energy bills get higher while HVAC performance plateaus. For the best results, you should change your HVAC air filters at least once every six months. If you live somewhere with relatively poor air quality, you may have to change filters once every three months instead.  

Use a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats are a simple way how to reduce heating costs because they give you more fine-grained control over HVAC operation. Programmable thermostats can schedule routines, such as lowering the heater when you are away from work, for example. They also save you money by lowering heater activity during non-usage hours. Many modern smart thermostats record performance and use machine-learning algorithms to tweak and optimize outputs automatically. Moreover, upgrading to a programmable thermostat is extremely easy as long as you have the right electrical connections. Smart zoning systems can also provide more precise controls on a room-by-room basis. 

Use Natural Heating Sources

You can save even more by reducing your heat usage and relying on natural sources of heating to warm your home. For example, open your window coverings as wide as possible on a sunny day to maximize the amount of sunlight flowing into your home. Even though it is cold outside, heat radiation from visible light will heat your home. If you open your blinds and curtains, it will take even less time to heat your home when you turn the furnace on. 

Lower Your Thermostat

Another way to save on heating bills is to simply lower your thermostat. It’s a bit counterintuitive, but you may be able to improve comfort and perceived heat by dropping the temperature a few notches. Each increase in temperature correlates to about 6% more energy usage, and you will start to get diminishing returns after a certain point. Keeping your thermostat at or below 70 degrees in the winter saves money and is an effective method of lowering heating costs in the winter. 

Use Ceiling Fans

Few people know this trick, but you can actually use your fans to heat your home by reversing their direction. Heat tends to rise to the ceiling, so the reversed fan blades will push heat that accumulates near the ceiling down to the ground, circulating it through the room.