Heating And AC Repair: 20 Ways To Save On Your Heating During The Winter Season | Richardson, TX
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Do you want to save more on your heating bills this winter? We have provided you with effective tips below to help you maximize winter heating. These tips should help assist your HVAC system so it does not have to work hard. Keep in mind that too much strain could lead to costly heating and AC repair. If you need more assistance with heating, do not hesitate to contact a technician in Richardson, TX.
1. Dress for Winter
Want to save more on your heating bills? Consider dressing up for the season. Just because you are at home doesn’t mean you have to wear anything you like. Because winter is cold, dress up for it. Revisit your closet and put on those cozy sweaters or jackets. You can lower down the temperature at home when you are bundled up. Place some soft blankets on your couches so you feel even warmer while watching your favorite movies. If your home has tile floors, consider putting some thick rugs in them so the heat doesn’t escape outside.
During winter, your heating equipment doesn’t need to work harder as there are things you can do to keep yourself warmer. You do not only save more money but you also help extend the lifespan of your heating device. It will be unlikely for you to hire heating and AC repair when you do not overuse your equipment.
2. Buy An Electric Blanket
Another alternative to heating is getting an electric blanket to keep you warm under the covers. Heated blankets are more cost-effective than turning up your HVAC so definitely more savings for you. Also, they are quite effective in helping you get quality sleep. There are affordable electric blankets available in the market today. Get one for yourself if you want to save more on the heating costs or if you want to extend the lifespan of your HVAC and avoid costly heating and AC repair in Richardson, TX.
3. Use Your Oven
If you love to bake, why not leave the oven door open after cooking or baking? That way you won’t have to turn up your heating. Consider sipping hot drinks too – a hot cup of coffee or tea surely will make you feel warmer.
4. Get a Pro to Service the Furnace
Hire heating and AC repair for a licensed technician to thoroughly inspect your furnace. A professional will check whether anything needs attention or repairs. You may need to also clean and replace your filters for good airflow. That way your heater doesn’t work hard or shut down. Heating and AC repair in Richardson, TX can be expensive but you can avoid that when you take care of your heating equipment.
If you have an old HVAC – or more than 10 years old, it may be time to upgrade to a new one so your heating works efficiently and you can save more on energy bills. There are good energy-efficient HVAC systems in the market today. Talk to your technician to get better advice on this.
Consider having someone look at your ductwork too. All leaks need to be fixed before the winter comes to save more on heating and avoid costly heating and AC repair in Richardson, TX.
5. Insulate Your Home
At least a month before winter, inspect your home. It may be better to hire a professional to help you inspect your home’s insulation and seal all cracks. Keep in mind that heating is expensive so you need to take all precautions so you won’t have to pay more on your utility bills. Worse is when you damage the HVAC and have to pay more for heating and AC repair.
If your home’s insulation no longer works, it’s best to get an upgrade. Do you live in an older home? Check your roof and whether snow just melts quickly. That’s when you know that insulation no longer works for you. Get a professional to fix any roof leaks or problems so heat doesn’t escape outside.
6. Lower the Temperature
The best way to save money on heating is to simply lower the temperature in your homes. Get a programmable thermostat so you can easily adjust the settings even when you are not at home. Never use heating when no one is home. As much as possible, set the temperature to about 68 degrees at day time and 60 degrees at night.
7. Maintain Your Heating System
Regular maintenance of your HVAC is essential to avoid costly heating and AC repair in Richardson, TX and for it to work efficiently. You can perform your own maintenance by replacing filters or cleaning the other parts. Just make sure that you properly clean them and not damage them. If possible, hire heating and AC repair in Richardson, TX so a technician can help. That way he can also inspect the system and see whether anything needs to be fixed before the winter. You need to make sure everything works well. Otherwise, your system will only work harder and you pay more for your energy bill.
8. Close Vents of Other Rooms
Heat only the rooms that you are currently using if you want to save more on energy. There is no need to use heating for rooms that are not used by family members. If you have guest rooms and storage rooms, consider closing all the vents and doors to save more on heating.
9. Consider Getting an Energy Assessment
Talk to your utility company about getting an energy assessment for your home to find out where you can get the most savings. Ask them about what options they can give you. Although there might be a cost for this, it also is worth it. It’s one of the best ways to save money during winter.
In addition to these tips and heating and AC repairs can also consider investing in more appliances that can help you save more energy in the long run. Buy Energy Star appliances and get professional to help you inspect your entire home whether it has the proper insulation.
As much as possible, you need to also assist your HVAC system so it doesn’t have to work harder during the winter season. It’s effective if you want to extend your equipment’s lifespan and to minimize heating and AC repair in Richardson, TX.
10. Don’t Use a Space Heater All The Time
You can avoid heating and AC repair in Richardson, TX if your system doesn’t overwork. The best way to do this is to find other alternatives to heating your room. Using a space heater will do but you need to do it sparingly. There are also precautions you need to take when using space heaters.
First, use portable heaters only when you are in the room, never let it running when you go outside and especially while you are sleeping. Put them away from your appliances or your sofa, beds and curtains to avoid fire. Never put them too close to something that may catch fire. Also, you need to periodically check them in case they overheat. You can do this while it’s running. Simply touch the plug and if it feels warm, unplug it right away. Most importantly, use only safety-certified heaters. Talk to a technician and ask for advice on what space heater to get for your home.
11. Work on Those Cracks and Holes
Heat can make its way into those cracks and holes. Before the winter, examine all your doors, windows and walls. Use silicone for filling those cracks or other openings. They may seem harmless but these cracks can contribute a lot to higher energy bills. They also make your HVAC system work harder. To avoid heating and AC repair cost, plug up those holes and fill those cracks. Check your switches and the electrical outlets too. Insulate them when necessary.
12. Use Less Hot Water
Consider washing your clothes in cold water instead of hot water to save more energy. You can still up your savings by installing a clothesline instead of using the dryer. You can also switch to tankless water heaters as they are more efficient and they last longer than conventional heaters. If you still have the conventional heater, make sure that you do proper maintenance and always flush out the sediments at least once a year for them to work efficiently. Insulate them as well during winter to prevent heat loss.
13. Seal Your Unused Chimney
Cold air may make its way inside your home through the chimneys. To stop the air leaks, try inflating a balloon inside your chimney. If you do not know how to do this, it’s best to hire a professional.
During winter, you can avoid heating and AC repair when you do not put a strain on your HVAC. When they work hard, your HVAC may shut down. To help with your heating, make sure that you work on your unused chimney and other cracks in your homes.
14. Cover the Air Conditioner
You will not be using this appliance during winter so it’s best to either store them somewhere or simply cover them to prevent air from flowing through them. Window-type ACs can easily be removed but make sure you clean them first to ensure they will still work.
15. Use Winter Curtains
Assist your HVAC to prevent having to call for heating and AC repair by utilizing those winter curtains. Using them can significantly improve comfort levels and can also lower your energy bills.
16. Check Your Attic
One of the major sources of heat loss in the attic. Make sure that you find all the leaks and seal them. You can also consider hiring a professional to help you fix cracks in your attic and properly insulate them to prevent air leaks.
17. Install Triple Glazed Windows
To ensure that no heat is lost, consider calling a professional to help you with the installation of this type of window. This can significantly help you maximize heating in your homes. Triple pane windows are also more durable. You can save energy with these windows not only during the winter but also during summer. This is effective in assisting your HVAC system and can help to minimize costly heating and AC repair.
18. Install Zone Heating for your Home
Heating and AC repair technicians should be able to also help you with this. Consider switching to these systems especially when you live in a larger home. Sometimes heat may still escape in the vents and the best way to save more energy is through zoning.
This will let you eat just the rooms that you are using. Doing this lets you maximize energy usage and prevent strain on your system that could lead to costly heating and AC repair.
19. Close the Fireplace
It can be cozy to stay warm in a fireplace but this area is also one of the many sources of heat loss or for cold air to sneak inside your home. You can skip the fireplace during winter especially if you are not using it.
20. Use LED Holiday Lights
These types of lights use up to 75% less energy and are incredibly helpful in reducing those utility bills. If you are thinking about decorating for Christmas, consider only buying LED lights for your Christmas trees.
Call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas
Do you need help with heating and AC repair in Richardson, TX? Get in touch with us so we can help! All our technicians are licensed and competent to help you resolve any heating or cooling related problems or issues. We have been helping residents of Texas for years and aim to continue providing only exceptional services on every appointment.