The Thought of Winter Heating Bills Giving You the Shivers? Warm up to these Energy-Saving Tips

Colder weather is on its way to northwest Arkansas, and if winter heating bills are the bane of your existence during the heating season, use these tips to improve the efficiency of your furnace and lower your energy costs this winter.

Schedule a Furnace Tune-Up

Annual preventive maintenance is essential for increasing the efficiency of your furnace. The result is better heating, lower energy bills, fewer system breakdowns and a longer system life. Choose a reputable contractor for your tune-up to ensure the essential furnace checkpoints are performed.

Seal Air Leaks

Doors and windows are major culprits when it comes to the loss of warm air and the infiltration of cold air, and if not sealed properly will considerably increase the wear on your system and the energy bills associated with it. Seal around window and door frames with caulk. Install weatherstripping between movable parts.

Shore Up Your Insulation

Your attic should have 11 to 14 inches of R-38 insulation to prevent heat energy from rising from your living spaces into your attic, and then out of the attic through the roof.

Inspect Your Ductwork

Leaky ducts may result in the loss of up to 40 percent of warm air that should be sent into your rooms, making your furnace work extra hard to compensate. Seal loose joints in your ductwork with mastic duct sealant or metal tape.

Change Your Air Filter

A dirty furnace air filter prevents air from flowing optimally through your system and may cause it to overheat or fail altogether. Check your air filter every month. When it’s caked with debris, replace it with a good-quality, pleated filter.

Use Your Ceiling Fans

Reverse the direction of the blades on your ceiling fans. Warm air that rises toward the ceiling will be redistributed throughout your rooms, delaying the point at which your furnace kicks on.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

You can save a lot of money on winter heating bills by properly installing and operating a programmable thermostat. Program lower temperatures while you’re away from home and sleeping to benefit from your thermostat.

For more expert tips on lowering your winter heating bills in northwest Arkansas, please contact us at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Springdale, Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about energy saving tips and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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