Tips for Keeping Your Home’s Heating Costs in Check

If you’re tired of paying higher and higher utility bills every month, now is the time to take action. Keeping your Lorton, VA, area home’s heating costs in check doesn’t have to mean shivering under layers of clothing and blankets. Use these three tips to stay comfortable and lower your utility bills at the same time.

Change the Air Filter

It’s important to maintain your heating system. A well-maintained heating system uses less energy, lasts longer, and has fewer breakdowns. One of the simplest things to do is change the air filter. Operating your heating system with a dirty air filter lowers its efficiency by 15% or more. This will lead to higher utility bills. Check the heating system’s filter every month. Replace it when it’s dirty. Be sure to schedule a professional HVAC maintenance service visit each year in the autumn.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

According to the Department of Energy, setting back your thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit for eight or more hours per day could lower your home’s heating costs by 10% or more. You could program your thermostat to do this while you’re at work. You could also lower the thermostat during the hours you sleep. Consider a smart thermostat, which uses algorithms to optimally time heating cycles and adjust temperature setbacks for additional energy savings.

Reduce Heat Loss from Your Home

Consider having an energy audit performed on your home. This process includes the use of an infrared camera to find areas where heat leaks out of your home. You could also add or replace caulk and weatherstripping around doors and windows. Add enough insulation to meet the Department of Energy’s recommended R value for your home. Hang heavy drapes on the windows to reduce heat loss through the glass.

To learn more about lowering your home’s heating costs, take a look at Commonwealth Cooling & Heating’s HVAC maintenance services, or get in touch with us today.