How to Save On Your Heating Bill: 8 Tips

Do you need fast and efficient heating solutions? Call Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling at (864) 633-3313 now.

The cost of heating is one of the most sizable expenses you’ll face as a homeowner. According to the Department of Energy, it can make up more than 40% of the total sum in your utility bill in the winter months. Therefore, it’s natural to explore ways to keep the costs down.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss eight tips on how to save on your next heating bill.

1. Order Maintenance

Heating systems start to lose their efficiency when they go a long time without maintenance. In that condition, they’ll work harder than normal to keep your home warm. The result is an uptick in your heating bill.

Request maintenance for your heating system to ensure it’s in the best shape to keep your home warm in the winter months. Ideally, you should order the maintenance before the season. You don’t want to experience heating downtime in the middle of winter!

During the maintenance visit, a technician will evaluate your furnace for broken or worn parts, replace the filter, and inspect other system parts, like your ductwork.

2. Install a Smart Thermostat

Turning down your thermostat by seven to ten degrees for eight hours each day can reduce your heating by up to 10% per year. However, making that tweak is easier said than done. You probably won’t remember to do it half the time, and that’s where a smart thermostat comes in.

You can program the thermostat to turn down the heating when you’re not at home or when you’ll be away from home for too long.

Over time, some of these thermostats can learn your behavior and adjust the temperature automatically at certain times of the day. You can also control the unit remotely if you need to tweak the temperatures by yourself while away from home. You can feel the impact of using a smart thermostat on your heating bill within the first few months.

3. Use the Ceiling Fan

Mentioning a ceiling fan in a post on how to save on a heating bill may sound counterintuitive. However, it’s effective at reducing the strain on your heating system. You just need to set the fan to spin clockwise so it can push down heat as it rises.

Be sure to use the fan’s lowest setting, though, to keep it from countering the heat.

4. Check Your Windows and Doors

Cold air can enter your home through poorly installed doors and windows and peeling weather-stripping, putting significant strain on your heating system.

Before you start searching “reliable heating installation near me” to discuss a replacement heating system, check around your doors and windows to be sure you’re not losing warm air outside.

5. Close Vents in Empty Rooms

Do you have empty rooms around your house? Close the vents to keep the heat only in occupied rooms. Your heating bill will drop when you reduce the load on your furnace, boiler, or heat pump.

6. Tap Some Natural Heat from the Sun

In the summer, we recommend blocking off UV rays to keep out heat. The reverse should be the case in the winter. Open the curtains during the day to allow some warmth into your home, and close them at night to keep the heat inside.

7. Reduce Dependence on Your Vent Fans

Vent fans help eliminate smells and moisture from your home. However, they can also remove hot air in the process. In the cooler months, you can save money on heating by using the vent fans sparingly. Let the heat from that hot shower linger a bit longer inside your home and dissipate naturally.

8. Request an Energy Audit

If the minor tweaks we’ve seen thus far do not help to lower your heating bill, you could have a significant heat loss issue. The best way to diagnose the problem is to schedule an energy audit for your home. You can request an audit from your utility company for a small fee.

You may need to replace your heating system or install stronger insulation. The audit will evaluate your home’s energy efficiency and recommend where you can make improvements.

Call Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling for Efficient Heating

Do you need further guidance on how to save on your heating bill? Maybe your furnace is blowing cold air, and you need fast and efficient repairs.

Call Smooth Sailing Heating & Cooling in Boiling Springs, SC, today at (864) 633-3313 to schedule a consultation.