Great Tips To Help You Avoid Energy Waste This Winter
By: John Garcia | Date Posted: February 1, 2022
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Most people fail to realize just how time-consuming and difficult maintaining a home can be. While most people dream of owning a home, many are unprepared for the hard work involved in homeownership.
Failing to take your job as a homeowner seriously can create lots of problems. If the vital systems under your roof are not properly cared for, it is only a matter of time before they break down.
As winter weather engulfs the United States, many people are looking for ways to keep their homes warm without wasting a lot of energy. An inefficient home will waste energy and cost you more in utilities as well. If you are looking for some ideas on how to avoid energy waste this winter, check out the tips below.
Tips On How to Avoid Energy Waste This Winter
Maintain Your Furnace Every Year
The job of a residential HVAC unit is to pull air in from outdoors and heat or cool it based on the settings of the thermostat. During the winter months, the heating portion of your HVAC system will get a lot of use. Before you start using your heating unit this winter, you need to make sure it is ready to go.
The furnaceās job is to heat the air pulled in from outdoors. Getting your furnace serviced and checked yearly helps keep it running effectively and efficiently (source: https://burichvac.com/olney-heating-furnace/).
The longer you allow your heating unit to go without maintenance, the harder to keep it running properly during the coldest months of the year.
Not only does routine make your heating unit more reliable, but it also reduces the amount of energy it uses. This means you can keep your home warm without having to pay higher energy bills. The main thing you need to do to ensure this maintenance is performed correctly is to hire experienced HVAC technicians. With their assistance, you can find and fix heating unit problems before they cause lots of damage.
Let the Sun In
Over 21% of the electricity produced in the United States is consumed by residential structures. If you are running your heating unit all day, it is only a matter of time before your energy bill starts to rise.
Reducing the strain put on your heating unit during this time of year should be one of your main concerns. One way to do this is by allowing the sun into your home during the daytime hours.
The sun produces a lot of heat, so leaving your curtains closed all day means you are missing out on this free heat source. This is why you need to open those blinds and drapes. Remember to close them again at night, however, or they will let the cold air back in. Being smart about when to open your window treatments can help you keep your home warm without wasting a lot of energy.
Be Mindful of Drafts in Your Home
Taking the time to inspect your home is a great way to find sources of energy waste. During this inspection, you need to keep an eye out for any drafts that are present.
If any of the doors or windows in your home are drafty, you will waste a lot of energy during the winter months. These drafts will allow the warm air to escape. Not only does this make your home cooler, but your furnace will also have to work harder to heat the air in your home again.
If you want to avoid overworking your HVAC unit, then now is the time to fix the drafts in your home. With some time and the help of professionals, you can fix these drafts before energy gets wasted. Routinely checking for drafts in your home will help you stay one step ahead of these problems.
Check Your Water Heater Thermostat
One of the main sources of energy consumption in homes across the United States is water heaters. Most people fail to realize just how much energy it takes to adequately heat the water they use for their showers or baths. Traditional water heaters are constantly heating and reheating the water inside.
The higher your water heater thermostat is set, the more energy it will consume throughout the course of the day. If you want to conserve energy this winter, then you need to alter your water heater thermostat settings.
Adjusting these settings to a few degrees cooler can help you save a lot of energy. If you are unsure about how to adjust your water heater thermostat, then you need to call in an experienced plumber to help you out. These professionals will have no problem checking and changing these thermostat settings when needed.
You may also want to consider upgrading your water heater. Newer on-demand water heaters are much more efficient and can save you money on monthly utility bills.
Smart Thermostats Are a Great Investment
The average person is not at home during the day. If you are at work all day, the last thing you need to do is keep your heating unit going to warm up an empty house.
Allowing your heating unit to run when you arenāt there can waste a lot of energy. Instead of making this energy-wasting mistake, you need to embrace the power of modern technology.
Smart thermostats allow you to turn your heating unit on and off with the help of your smartphone. With one of these thermostats in place, you can keep your heating unit off when you arenāt home, and have it nice and warm when you walk in the door. This will help you save a lot of energy. Many smart thermostats can also track when and how you use the system, and automatically update as your routine changes.
As you can see, there are a number of things you can do to save energy during the winter months. By implementing some of the tips in this article, you can save money and keep your home warm and comfortable until the warmer months arrive.
Thank you for reading!
