There are many steps to take to prepare for another winter in the Central Valley, such as making sure that you’ve had a heating maintenance visit from one of our expert service technicians. If you want to cut down on your heating bills for the coming winter—and we’re sure you do—just follow these tips below. Simple steps like these can make a big difference.
- Cautious thermostat use: Don’t push the thermostat up to a high setting and then drag it back down when it gets too warm indoors. To conserve energy, keep the setting around 68°F during the day (adjust up or down a few degrees based on personal comfort) and then lower it by around 8°F during the evening or when the house is empty. This can lower heating bills by as much as 25%
- Clear heating vents: It’s easy during the winter for one or more of the room vents to become blocked with moved furniture, or for a carpet to be placed over a floor vent. This places additional strain on the heating system (and it means rooms won’t get as warm as they should). Check on all the vents around the house to see that there are no obstructions.
- Window coverings: Windows are a major place where heat can escape from a home in cold weather. You can help prevent energy loss with special insulated covers and storm panels. According to the Department of Energy, you can stop winter heat loss by as much as 50% this way.
- Seal off drafts: Caulk windows and place weather stripping around doors to block places where heat can slip out of the house. Older homes may need more work and insulation in order to seal up drafts.
- Adjust the water heater: The water heater accounts for 18% of all the energy consumed in your house. If you turn down the temperature setting on the water heater to around 120°F (the “warm setting”) during the winter, it will make a noticeable difference on your heating bills—and you’ll avoid accidental scalding.
For additional help with your heating this winter, such as heating system repairs, just call on Purl’s Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning. We serve Clovis and Fresno, CA.