January 9, 2017
As winter settles in here in Monmouth and Ocean County, NJ, you’re probably dreaming of warmer weather. You may also have a New Year’s resolution related to saving more cash and finally going on that dream vacation.
So, what can you do this winter to stay comfortable at home while also saving money on heating? Here are four winter heating tips that will not only help make your home comfortable all through the cold season, but are also some of the best ways to save on heating bills.
1. Preventive HVAC Maintenance
Regularly scheduled HVAC winter maintenance is a great way to save money in the long run. A yearly furnace tune-up can help your heating system continue running efficiently, help avoid expensive breakdowns and service calls, and can bring additional health, comfort and savings benefits to you and your home.
An HVAC tune-up ensures your air filters are cleaned and replaced, stopping your home’s indoor air quality from suffering. Maintenance also helps your system work efficiently, keeping your home at a more comfortable temperature while working to eliminate exorbitant heating costs.
2. Use Fans
Although you may already use a fan to keep you cool in the summer, did you know you should also run your ceiling fan in the winter to keep you warm? Contrary to popular belief, fans don’t actually cool the air temperature in the summer, but they make you feel cooler.
Using a fan set on low rotating in a clockwise direction (your ceiling fan should have a reverse direction switch or setting) will help push heated air from your furnace back down towards the floor, when it will most benefit you! Your ceiling fan can make a room warmer without actually increasing the temperature inside, helping you save on heating costs this winter.
3. Upgrade Your Attic Insulation
Insulation provides a heat barrier between your home envelope and the outdoors. The best insulation for cold weather works to keep your home warm, requiring your home heating to run less frequently. Then, in the summer months, that same insulation helps to keep your living space cooler by preventing the hot summer air from getting inside. Attic insulation, in particular, is crucial to keeping you comfortable throughout the year, while also helping you save on home heating and cooling costs.
4. Add Air Sealing
Your home has hundreds, if not thousands, of little gaps and cracks in its building envelope. This means air can readily move in and out. The more air movement your home has in the winter, the greater the stack effect; this is where warm air rises and escapes your home while cold, outdoor air is pulled inside. By air sealing with expanding spray foam insulation and closing up those gaps, you’ll be able to stay warm and significantly cut down on your home’s heating bills.
Reach Out to Tom Rostron, NJ’s Leading Whole Home Experts
Whether you’re dealing with home comfort issues or you’re simply trying to lower your utility bills, the experts at Tom Rostron have the expertise and knowledge to address all aspects of your home performance. Call today to schedule a home energy audit, which includes a home inspection and diagnostic testing to determine how efficient their home is, and where improvements could be made to building structure, insulation and air sealing, heating and cooling systems, windows, and more.
