Energy Saving Tips

*Today's article was submitted and written by: Thaib Suliman - a heating and cooling expert. He is the owner of 1st Choice Plumbing Heating and Cooling, a HVAC company that specializes in heating repairs. You can learn more about them here: http://njplumbingchoice.com/

Tips for Saving Energy

As many areas of the country has recently been experiencing record low temperatures, it can be really easy to run up your heating bills. While it is inevitable that you will be using your furnace or boiler a lot more during these cold winter months, it is not necessary to be needlessly spending more than you have to. There are things that you can do to stay smart. Here are some energy saving tips that will allow you to stay sufficiently warm without putting a strain on your wallet:

•       Get a tune-up. It is good to get your heater tuned-up yearly. Your heater will work more efficiently after a tune-up. This will mean it will not have to work as hard to heat up your home. If your home heats quickly, it will require less energy.

•       Don’t wait. It’s a little late for this year, but try to remember for next winter to get your tune-up in the fall. Heating technicians are extremely busy in the winter, and not nearly as busy in other seasons. By planning this in advance, you can more easily schedule an appointment at a time that’s good for you and probably also get lower rates.

•       Open and close shades. By using sunlight to help heat your home, your heater will need to work less. Open your shades or blinds during the daytime when the sun is shining through them, and shut them at night to better insulate your home.

•       Turn down the temperature. Lower the thermostat by 10 degrees or so when you leave, especially if you are gone for the entire day. It will heat back up very quickly when you return. You can also try lowering your temperature very slightly when you are home. You may not notice feeling the one-degree or two-degree difference in your home, but you will notice it on your utility bills.

•       Get a programmable thermostat. This will save you a lot of money in the long run. It will not run too long and you can set it accordingly. If you set it to drop late at night when you are asleep under blankets, you will not notice the temperature drop.

•       Check your vents. Make sure that curtains, furniture, or anything else does not block your vents; this will hinder the flow of heat and cause you to run your heater more than necessary.

•       Replace the filters. If your heater has dirty filters in it, it will need to work extra hard to produce more heat.

•       Use other heat sources. Ovens and showers produce a lot of heat that can help your heater. Leave the oven door open after using in order let all of the heat out. Also, do not turn on fans in the kitchen or bathroom. These will evacuate any heat produced by the oven or shower.

Hopefully, these heating and cooling tips will help you to conserve both money and energy. We still have some cold days ahead of us so it’s good to remember to stay smart as well as warm.

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