The holiday season is a busy time, and you might worry more about the perfect present than saving money on your heating bills in your Roxana, Kentucky, home. Follow these four simple tips to help keep your heating costs down:
Pay Attention to Your Windows
During the winter, utilize the sunlight to naturally heat your home. Open the curtains on your south-facing windows during the day, and close them at night to reduce the chill that comes from cold windows. Consider taping clear plastic film inside your window frames during the winter to help seal your windows and prevent drafts.
Schedule a Heating Inspection
Don’t wait until your HVAC system breaks down in the middle of hosting a holiday gathering. Schedule an inspection before your major family events to repair any issues or replace parts to ensure that your unit is running efficiently.
Turn Down the Thermostat
When you have lots of people in your house, you might notice how warm it gets. Lowering your thermostat during a gathering can save you money while keeping the house comfortable. Also, if you plan to be away for part of the holiday season, consider investing in a programmable or smart thermostat. That way you can program the temperature to lower when you’re not at home, saving you money. For every 10 degrees that you lower your thermostat, you can save up to 5 percent on your heating bill.
Use Fans to Circulate the Air
You might think that turning on your ceiling fans would make your furnace work harder, but if you change the direction of your fans, it’s the opposite. Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise on low to circulate the air upward toward the ceiling. Since warm air rises, this forces the warmer air downward and makes your house warmer.
There’s no reason why you can’t give yourself the gift of energy savings during the holidays. You can learn about our energy-saving HVAC options by contacting us at Appalachian Refrigeration, Heating & Cooling at (606) 436-0682.
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