Although you might not run your heater all that often during winter in Louisiana, don’t you still want to save money at those times you need to combat low temperatures?
Read on for winter energy-saving tips you can use when it’s time to turn on your furnace or heat pump. You can also contact H&E Comfort Services to learn more.
Check Insulation and Weather Stripping
Attic insulation can be an important way to save money on your energy bills in the winter. Having the right level of insulation keeps warmer air inside your home rather than allowing it to seep outside.
Check the weatherstripping around doors and windows in your Louisiana home, too. The insulation wears out over time, so it may allow warm air to leak out of your home. Consider using plastic film over unused windows and doors to enhance your air sealing, too.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
If you have an older thermostat, you could upgrade it with a newer model that offers automated options. You can set the thermostat settings to have the heater shut down most of the night but start running just before you wake up. This combination reduces your energy usage significantly.
You can also run a smart thermostat from a smartphone app, allowing you to turn down the temperature when you aren’t home.
Perform Annual Heating System Maintenance
One of the best winter energy-saving tips is to let our professionals perform a tune-up of your heating system in the autumn. We’ll clean the system and run a diagnostic test to determine whether any parts of the system are close to failing. Your heat pump or furnace will run more efficiently after we clean and maintain it, reducing your heating bills.
We can also perform duct cleaning at the same time, bringing airflow improvement for better heat distribution. Sometimes, reversing the direction of your ceiling fans in winter can improve the distribution of heated air, too. Annual maintenance on your heating system should also reduce the need for repairs in the middle of the heating season, saving you money by skipping preventable emergencies.
Let the Sun Inside
When the winter weather is cold, sunlight streaming through your windows can provide some passive heat. You don’t have to actually open the windows to receive the benefits of warm sunlight.
Of course, you’ll have better luck heating up south-facing rooms during winter. The angle of the sun for these rooms will give you the maximum amount of sunlight entering through the windows. With the sun lower in the southern sky during winter months, this technique won’t work as well in north-facing rooms.
Let H&E Comfort Services Keep Your Furnace Running Efficiently
Ensuring your furnace is running at top efficiency is a key step toward keeping your heating bill as low as possible. As a Louisiana homeowner, you can use our winter energy-saving tips to keep your heating system operational costs reasonable. H&E Comfort Services also does annual maintenance on furnaces to ensure they remain in top condition, so set up an appointment by calling us today at (504) 800-6261!
