No one likes to waste money. Money wasted on heating a home in winter is literal and figurative lighting money on fire for wasted natural gas. This post examines a few strategies to save money with HVAC energy settings and consumer habits.
Winter HVAC Energy Saving FAQs:
- Can Lowering Heat Setting at Night & When Away Reduce Energy Costs?
- Does Replacing an Air Filter Regularly Reduce Energy Consumption?
- What Direction Should a Ceiling Fan Spin in Cold Months?
- Can a Smart Thermostat Lower Energy Bills?
- Can a Furnace Inspection Lead to Energy Savings in Winter?
Lower Heat Setting at Night & When Away
An easy tip that is often forgotten is to reduce or turn the thermostat off at night and while out of the house. For every degree that a thermostat is lowered at night, a savings as high as 3% on an energy bill can occur.
For example a one degree reduction can result in a three percent savings. A ten degree reduction can result in roughly thirty percent energy savings on a home gas bill. The addition of an extra blanket or two and the reduction of the thermostat can help save money. These savings quickly add up over the colder winter months in the United States.
Inspect & Replace Air Filter
One of the easiest and cost effective improvements to an HVAC system is to replace the air filter at least every three months. For homes with dogs and cats – air filters need to be replaced more frequently (between thirty and sixty days) compared to homes without pets.
Find the main HVAC vent in the unit and pop off the vent. Then inspect the air filter. If the air filter is dirty, locate the size of the filter and procure a new filter from a home repair store or online.
Install Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats learn from the residential behaviors of residential units. When smart settings are enabled, the heater will automatically kick on at a defined temperature.
However – it is important to still turn off the thermostat when humans and pets are out of the house for extended periods of time. When smart thermostats acquire necessary data, they automatically turn on at certain triggers.
These triggers activate when a temperature hits or drops below a certain degree as well as certain times of the day. In most situations – extreme and freezing temperatures can be the exception – thermostats can be turned off to reduce energy usage.
What Direction Should a Ceiling Fan Spin in Cold Months?
Ceiling fans have switches on them for different seasons! When the weather thaws and Spring arrives, ceiling fans should be switched to spin counter clockwise.
When fall returns and the temperatures cool, ceiling fans need to be switched to spin clockwise. Setting the ceiling fan on a very low speed during cold months pushes warm air trapped at the top of a space down into the lower space, and does not create a cold draft.
Furnace Inspection & Energy Savings
A quick call to an experienced HVAC expert can help identify any furnace issues, replacements and services needed. When an HVAC expert is called to a residential unit or home, a technician can perform the following services:
- Identify airflow blockage to improve airflow – In certain instances poor airflow can force a furnace to work harder. When airflow is improved a furnace can hit the target temperature faster resulting in less gas being used.
- Improves efficiency – Seasonal tuneups can help recover an estimated five to twenty percent of efficiency via removal of contaminants and restoring normal wear and tear.
- Leak inspection – Leaks in ductwork cause the average home to lose twenty to thirty percent of heated air. This energy escapes via leaks, holes and connections that have degraded over time. An experienced HVAC contractor helps identify and fix leaks.
At Moonlight HVAC and Nightscapes our goal is to serve the customer and earn business for life. Contact our father and son HVAC team. We are located in and serve southwestern Nashville.