As temperatures drop and you crank up the heat, your energy bills can start to climb. Warmth is needed all the time in fall and the coming winter, and how that gets into your home can be described by the old phrase “time is money.” It can be hard to keep up with the monthly price of living, but it doesn’t always need to be.
At Whyte Ridge HVAC, we recognize the potential costs of keeping your home heated, and are committed to helping Winnipeg homeowners stay warm without overspending. Here are five smart HVAC tweaks and ideas to keep costs down and comfort high in the coming cold seasons.
1. Schedule a Pre-Heating Inspection
Before the chill sets in, call and bring in Whyte Ridge’s trusted HVAC professionals for a seasonal check-up. A fall inspection ensures critical components such as ducts, filters, and thermostats are clean, safe, and operating at top performance. Efficiency is the name of the game, and squeezing every last drop of heat your furnace produces using energy is vital for cost-saving measures. An early tune-up and once over can prevent inefficiencies and give your system a head start on energy savings.
2. Replace Your Air Filter Regularly
A dirty filter will force your furnace or heat pump to work harder than it needs to, reducing airflow and ramping up energy use. Aiming to keep energy bills in check by replacing the filter every 1–3 months is a great tactic to use, especially as the system begins to start up its fall cycle. Keeping a stash of spare filters in the furnace room of your home could save money as well, as inflation can cause product prices to fluctuate depending on the markets.
3. Seal and Insulate Air Ducts
Leaky or poorly insulated ductwork can waste or unevenly spread a lot of your heat, thus losing you a measure of energy efficiency. In other words, while your furnace could be fine, the pipes and vents leading from it could still cause issues if left unchecked. Finding and sealing gaps in the ductwork of your home helps warm air stay where you need it, and reduces waste and heating costs.
4. Use Programmable Thermostat Strategies
Setting your thermostat higher when you’re away and lower when at home or while sleeping could lead you to sizable savings. Altogether, it means not using the same constant amount of energy all day every day. A programmable or smart thermostat simplifies this by learning your schedule and adjusting its temperature automatically.
5. Enhance With Fans and Improve Airflow
Don’t let warm air get stuck near the ceiling. Using ceiling fans set to push warm air down will help heat disperse more evenly around rooms and halls. It is also wise to avoid blocking vents with furniture or curtains to maintain a good airflow and system efficiency.
A Few Other Minor Ways to Save on Heat This Fall
Alongside your furnace and HVAC system, there are a few extra things that you can use to make and spread heat around your home. While not certainly limited to this list, here are some of the better and more affordable options:
- Fireplace: If your home has a fireplace, especially a wood burning one, consider lighting it in the evenings to create a cozy atmosphere and help warm your home.
- Candles: Whether they are scented or decorative, candles can serve as a great source of heat in groups.
While novel and cost-saving, these items alone will not heat your home alone, and serve more as a compliment to your HVAC system. Getting that sorted out can allow these ideas to work much better in conjunction with your furnace.
Save on Heat This Fall
At Whyte Ridge HVAC, we believe every small action can add up to big savings. A little preventive care now, along with a good check-up and lookover, can go a long way toward keeping your home cozy and your budget intact through the fall.
Want help getting started? Contact our expert team today for a tune-up, duct sealing, smart thermostat setup, or system advice. Let us help you start your journey to an energy-smart all season.
