Cold winter temperatures can result in shockingly high heating bills. The good news is that there are steps that you can take to reduce your energy costs while remaining comfortable in your Chandler, AZ home.
Dress Warm and Select an Efficient Temperature
The Department of Energy (DOE) recommends setting your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in winter. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), you can set it as low as 64 degrees without risk to infants, seniors, and pets. While you’re away from home, you can set it as low as 55 degrees without pets and 60 degrees with pets present.
Some people may find the energy-minded DOE recommendation too low for their comfort. The key is to find the lowest temperature at which your family is comfortable and safe. It also helps to dress for a lower setting. You’ll need higher heating if you wear a T-shirt and shorts while at home. You can be more aggressive with your temperature settings if you wear a sweater and sweatpants to stay warm.
Take Advantage of Sunlight
Open your curtains and blinds during the day. Natural sunlight is good for illumination and your mood. Direct sunlight can also increase the temperature in a room by 5% or more. Close the curtains and blinds at night, as they help to curtail heat loss.
You may also want to consider smart blinds. They can open and close automatically based on available light. If you have a smart thermostat, they can integrate with that system too.
Schedule a Fall HVAC Tune-Up
There are several potentially money-saving reasons to schedule fall maintenance before you require your heating system. A clean heating system is efficient and affordable to run. Your HVAC warranty likely necessitates maintenance as a condition of coverage. Seasonal tune-ups help to avoid sudden repairs and ensure that your system ages without significant efficiency losses. For furnaces, we’ll clean all the combustion equipment. For heat pumps, we’ll clean the evaporator coil, condenser coil, and condenser pump. For both systems, we’ll clean the blower as well.
Replace Your HVAC Filter as Needed
Use a premium HVAC filter and replace it as needed to keep your heater clean and efficient. HVAC filters have a MERV rating between 1 and 16. The higher the rating, the better the filter effectiveness. That said, don’t use a filter with a MERV rating beyond what your system supports. That can restrict airflow too much and cause energy consumption to rise. As for keeping a filter clean, check it at least once a month. Swap it out if you hear whistling or see dust caking up on its surface.
Benefit From a Programmable or Smart Thermostat
If you don’t already have one, it’s time to invest in a smart or programmable thermostat. According to the DOE, homeowners can save as much as 10% on heating annually. It recommends using the thermostat to lower your heat automatically. Do this at 7 to 10 degrees for at least eight hours a day. That’s easy enough to accomplish for most households while everyone is sleeping or away from home. Smart thermostats can provide even more ways to save, including geofencing, smart setback, and energy monitoring.
Use Your Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans aren’t just for the summer. They help to push warm air that rises back down into the living space. Fans also help even out the heating in a room and avoid cold spots. You should have ceiling fans in all rooms where they’re practical. Make sure to set them in a clockwise direction in winter to avoid the wind chill effect. In rooms where they’re not practical, you can use floor-based room circulators to achieve a similar effect.
Inspect and Seal Your Ducts
If you have central heating, air leakage is a significant concern. In older ducts, the DOE estimates you can lose between 20% and 40% of your heating. A furnace must work longer and harder. Your heating costs go up, and the system experiences more wear and tear too. We recommend an annual duct camera inspection, which you can schedule alongside your fall tune-up. Our team can do duct repairs as needed. If you have leakage due to worn seals or cracks in the duct walls, we can seal the ducts. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends the aerosol duct sealing method. It can reduce leakage from as high as 40% to less than 5%.
Don’t Forget Your Water Heater
Water heaters require annual maintenance too. Tank-based water heaters need annual flushing to remove limescale and sediment. Our plumber will check the anode rod and replace it as needed. Tankless water heaters require annual descaling. If you have exposed pipes connected to the water heater, those require insulation. Replace that insulation as needed. If you have an electric tank heater, you may benefit from additional insulation. That includes an insulated base and a water heater blanket.
Install a Whole-House Fan
Whole-house fans circulate the air in a home to make it more comfortable when the heat isn’t cycling. They can also bring fresh air into the home. Two notable types that work in summer and winter are heat and energy recovery ventilators (HRVs, ERVs). An HRV extracts heat energy from the air it exhausts to preheat the fresh air it draws in. This can allow you to start running your main heat later in the season. You can also run it in-season between heating cycles. An ERV is similar but extracts moisture too, which increases humidity in the home.
Consider a Humidifier
The EPA recommends relative humidity (RH) of at least 30% in winter. One way to achieve this is with a whole-home humidifier that will add moisture to your air. An optimal RH lets you feel comfortable at a lower temperature. That can help you save money on heating over the life of the humidifier.
Upgrade to a Heat Pump
Households that don’t yet have a heat pump should consider one when it’s time to replace their heating systems. Heat pumps are among the most efficient heating systems available and provide cooling too. Many homes in our service area do fine with a standalone heat pump. Hybrid heating is also an option but generally unnecessary in this region.
Check Your Home’s Insulation
Poor insulation and a loose building envelope can cause your heating costs to rise dramatically. If you’re concerned about these issues, schedule a home energy audit. An audit will reveal where your heat losses are occurring and where to target your home improvement budget.
Do You Need Help in Lowering Your Heating Bill?
Emergency Air Heating Cooling & Plumbing serves homeowners in Chandler and throughout the Phoenix Metro area. Our HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair ducted and ductless cooling and heating systems. We perform HVAC deep cleaning, clean and seal ductwork, and install air filters, thermostats, and air purifiers. Our company has expert plumbers too. We plan and execute plumbing remodels and pipes and repipe water, sewer, and gas lines. Our team performs camera inspections, cleans drains, repairs sewer and septic tank systems, and identifies and fixes leaks, including slab leaks. We also install and service kitchen and bathroom fixtures, water heaters, sump pumps, and water softeners. Contact us today with questions or to schedule an heating maintenance appointment.
