Heating Your Home While Saving Money
Home heating is often less efficient than it could be because of deficient insulation or the type of heating system installed in the home. Neglected HVAC maintenance will also contribute to wasted gas and electricity, causing utility bills to skyrocket. Heat your home efficiently by implementing these strategies.
Heat Your Home Efficiently by Going Straight to the Source
Some types of heating systems are more efficient than others. In milder climates, heat pumps are a great option, as they draw thermal energy from the environment and cycle it into the home. In locations where the weather becomes very cold, gas furnaces may be a better option. The first step to heat your home efficiently is to upgrade your heat system to something more efficient.
Find out Where Energy Is Being Lost
Heat escaping from the home does your energy bill no favors and it happens in a number of ways.
Insulation
Your heat loss may be significant if your attic is poorly insulated. While you can add or replace insulating material yourself, it’s a project that many homeowners choose to leave for professionals to make sure it’s done correctly.
Check your home for gaps where cold air is entering. Large gaps around plumbing and unfinished areas of the structure will benefit from some spray foam insulation. Smaller gaps around doors and windows can often be sealed with caulk and weather stripping.
Doors and Windows
Minimize drafts by putting all weather plastic sheeting over window frames. Once the plastic is installed over the interior side of the window, use a hairdryer to shrink the plastic to the window and to eliminate wrinkles. This plastic can then be removed in the spring or summer once the weather warms up.
If cold air is coming from underneath an exterior door, purchase weather stripping or a draft stopper to improve the door seal and keep drafts out.
Modern Thermostats are Designed to Save Energy
Investing in a programmable thermostat is an easy and effective way to heat your home efficiently. You can set up a heating schedule and customize the thermostat settings for the time of day. While you’re at work and sleeping, you can reduce the thermostat to save energy and set it back to a comfortable level before you return at the end of the day.
Be sure to change the filter on your HVAC unit regularly. A dirty filter can obstruct the airflow, causing the heating system to operate inefficiently and taxing its internal components more than usual.
Spot On Inspection offers home inspections in Houston and the surrounding areas. Contact us to book our services.