With fall and winter quickly approaching, it’s time for you to prepare your home for high heating bills. You may not be able to get rid of those bills completely, but you can take steps to improve your heater’s efficiency and reduce your energy bills at the same time. The tips below will show you how to make your heater work its best.
Block Out Door Drafts
Your home is liable to lose a lot of its heat from the drafts underneath your doors. That is just money flying out of your home. Make sure that you have the appropriate weather stripping on your home, and pay close attention to the underside of your door. If you can still see light under the door when the room is dark, roll up a towel to put on the bottom.
Replace Your Furnace Filter
Your furnace filter acts just like any other air filter would. It traps in dirt, hair, and other particles that would clog up your heater. Replace it once a month during the months that you use your heater, and make sure you put a new one in at the end of the season. This will give your heater the best airflow to work with.
Get Your Heater Tuned
Your heating system needs a tune-up just like your car does. Once a year, have a professional HVAC specialist come look over your unit for you. They will check for any maintenance issues you may have before they get serious, and they will tweak the system to keep it running well all winter long.
Only Heat When You Have To
If it’s still in the 60’s outside, consider putting on warmer clothes instead of turning on your heater. When you’re away at work during the day, turn the heat down so you use less energy. The less wear you put on your unit, the better it will work for you.
Check Your Insulation
Poor insulation can be the culprit behind a lot of wasted heat. If you live in an older home, you may want to have a professional look over your insulation for you. If you need more insulation, get it now before you start to use your heater all the time. Then you won’t have to worry about your hard earned money sifting through the cracks in your attic.
