Winter means increased heating bills from running your home’s heater more frequently. Like in the hot Jacksonville summers when the air conditioning unit works harder, winter works your heater more. These two times of the year use the most energy from your HVAC system. However, with smart preparation and strategies, you can keep your home warmer without having to turn up the heat.
Habits To Keep Your Home Warmer
Lots of little actions can help your home maintain a warmer temperature. A few simple habits will aid in keeping your home warmer this winter.
- Open blinds and curtains on sunny days to let the warmth from the sun inside.
- Close blinds and curtains when the sun goes down to keep cold air out.
- When you bake in the oven, open the oven door slightly while the oven cools to allow the hot air to dissipate into your home.
- Close the doors to unused rooms to keep the heat concentrated in the frequently used areas of the home.
- Wear warmer clothing, even when inside, to keep your body temperature warmer.
HVAC System Updates And Strategies To Keep Your Home Warmer
While good daily habits can help keep you warmer during the winter, the best way to maximize your home’s heat is with solid HVAC strategies and updates.
Invest In Zone Heating
Zone heating is a heating system where the home is broken down into different areas or zones. The temperature setting for each zone is managed by a separate thermostat. The zone temperature is regulated using electronic dampers in the air duct system that open and shut to allow air to flow to specific areas.
With zone heating, each zone’s temperature can be set to the ideal temperature to keep the various parts of your home warm without heating the entire home to the same temperature. This helps maximize the temperature without using additional heat.
Change The Air Filters
Clogged air filters require your HVAC system to work harder to move the heated air through your HVAC system and into your home. When your system works harder, energy is wasted. Don’t turn up the heat. Instead, clean or replace your HVAC air filters.
Clean air filters not only help with energy efficiency, but they also help improve indoor air quality and extend the life of your HVAC unit. The simple task of replacing your air filters can help keep your home warmer this winter.
Schedule Maintenance
Regularly scheduled HVAC maintenance helps your unit to work more efficiently. In fact, with regular HVAC maintenance, your system is cleaned to improve function and air quality. Also, your system is inspected to identify any necessary replacement parts or repairs.
Don’t wait for unit your unit breaks. Stay on top of air conditioning and heater maintenance. A quality and cared-for unit lets your system work properly, which saves you inconvenience and costly emergency repairs. Plus, it’ll keep you from having to turn up the heat.
Add Attic Insulation
Over time the insulation in your attic settles, reducing the thickness and effectiveness of the insulation. Without adequate insulation in the attic, heat escapes through the roof making it difficult to maintain the temperature in your home.
At J&W Heating and Air + Plumbing in Jacksonville, Florida we offer blown-in fiberglass attic insulation to improve the efficiency of both the air conditioning and heating of your home. Added insulation improves energy efficiency while regulating your home’s temperature without constantly having to turn up the heat.
Clean Air Vents
Dirty air vents keep air from flowing freely from your HVAC system into your home. When your vents are clogged or dirty, your HVAC system has to work harder to heat your home. This means that even though your thermostat is set at the right temperature, your home may still feel cold.
Vacuum out your air vents regularly to remove dirt, dust, and debris. Also, remove any furniture, rugs, or holiday décor that blocks the air vents. Air vents are strategically placed throughout your home in order to stabilize the temperature. If the vents are covered, it’s hard for the desired temperature to be maintained.
Seal Air Leaks
Air leaks allow heat to escape your home. This means that your HVAC system has to work harder to keep your home warm. No matter how efficient your HVAC unit is, if the air is leaking out through holes or gaps in windows, doors, or walls, your heater will run more frequently. This is bad for your wallet and warmth.
Check for air leaks with a simple paper test. Hold a thin piece of paper up at windows and doors. When air moves the paper, you’ve identified an air leak. Seal air leaks with caulk and weatherstripping. Caulk and weatherstripping are available in both interior and exterior options.
Install A Smart Thermostat
Smart and programmable thermostats help maintain the temperature in your home while maximizing energy efficiency. Some smart thermostats even track behavior patterns in order to adjust the temperature based on where you spend time indoors.
Smart thermostats also have remote control via smart devices. This means you can adjust your home’s temperature setting while you’re away. Instead of coming home to a cold house, you can adjust the temperature in advance. Smart thermostats are a smart way to save energy and money.
Stay Warm This Winter
Invest in smart HVAC strategies in order to maximize your home’s temperature and energy efficiency. Also, adopt daily habits that help heat your home without turning up the thermostat.
At J&W Heating and Air + Plumbing we offer HVAC services in Jacksonville, Florida. From air conditioning maintenance to attic insulation installation, we’re here to maintain your home’s HVAC system. Contact us today to schedule HVAC maintenance or inspection.
