We could have also titled this post “How to Give Your Heater the Extra Efficiency Boost It Needs.” How you use your heater and how efficient your home is go hand-in-hand.
Sure, having a great heater starts with selecting the right one for your home (size matters), and having it professionally installed by trained professionals. But there are additional steps you can take to improve the cost-effectiveness of this system.
First, did you have professional maintenance done before this heating season began? If not, it’s not too late! Maintenance allows our technicians to thoroughly inspect, clean, and adjust the components of your furnace or heating system so it performs as it should, and as safely as it should. Maintenance also extends the lifespan of your heater. A well-cared for heater has the ability to last 10–15 years whereas one that skips maintenance may only last half of that.
In addition to regular tune-ups, here’s what else you can do!
Upgrade Your Thermostat
This small device has a big job. Your HVAC systems’ thermostat serves as the brain of those systems, allowing you to communicate with both your heater and your air conditioner. Upgrading to even the most basic digital thermostat from an older, manual thermostat is a great first step. Even better, though, is upgrading to a smart or Wi-Fi thermostat.
Smart and Wi-Fi thermostats give you precision control over your HVAC systems, and they even “learn” from your heating and cooling preferences to make adjustments accordingly.
Utilize Weatherstripping
Whether you have a furnace as your heating system of choice, a heat pump, or even a boiler, the heat from the heater can escape through cracks around your doors and windows. As a result, you lose energy that you are otherwise paying for. Without enjoying all the comfort you should be, this means you’re losing efficiency and money, too.
Consider getting some simple caulking from your local hardware store to seal up drafty windows and door jams, and make sure that the heat being produced stays in your home. Ultimately, this will help your heater run for a shorter period of time, meaning you end up paying less.
Use Your Ceiling Fans
This might seem like a strange tip to share in the winter, but hear us out! You probably use your ceiling fans in the summertime, right? It helps better distribute the air so you feel cooler, and therefore you can adjust your thermostat for more efficient use.
This same concept can be applied in the wintertime, with the simple flip of a switch. That’s right, there’s a switch in the middle of your ceiling fan that you could be using. What it does is switch the direction of the fan blades to pull hot air down from the ceiling so it’s better distributed by your heater. Just like with your air conditioner, this means you can adjust the temperature on the thermostat and your heater won’t have to run as long, saving energy.
For quality Fairfax, VA heating services, contact AllTech Services, Inc. today!