Residential Heating Maintenance is Key to Lower Utility Bills
If you’ve lived in the St. Louis metro area for any amount of time, then you’ve learned some tricks to lower your heating bills in the winter.
But if you’re new to the area, or if you’re living on your own for the first time, you might not be familiar with them.
Meyer Heating and Air, a locally-owned and operated HVAC company, is here for you, not only to help you maintain your heating system, but also to provide these tips for saving on your utility bills this winter.
Bundle up, and lower your thermostat.
St. Louisians know that your best bet for saving big money on utility bills over the winter is to keep your thermostat set to the lowest possible comfortable temperature, but keep it at least 55 degrees to help prevent frozen pipes.
Wearing a sweater and slippers instead of cranking up your heat is basically free. And for each degree you drop your thermostat, you can save about 1 percent on your bill every eight hours, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Seal your windows and doors.
A draft leaves a chill in the air. Gaps in windows and doors let cold air inside, and your residential heater has to work extra to keep you warm.
Before it gets terribly cold, go around your home and check for leaks. If you can feel the air seeping in along the sides, top or bottom of your windows and doors, you may want to add a foam seal to block the breeze, or apply a plastic film around your windows. St. Louis residents know to visit their favorite local hardware store to pick up supplies for the task.
Put ceiling fans on reverse.
If your home has ceiling fans in any room, you can use them to push warm air back down toward the floor. Reverse the fans, so the blades turn clockwise during the winter, using the switch at the base of the fan.
If, when you stand below the fan, you don’t feel air blowing on you, then you know it’s working.
Harness the power of the sun.
While St. Louis weather can be unpredictable, the sunshine we get throughout the year can do you a big favor during the winter months.
St. Louisians know to take advantage of the sunny days, by opening up blinds and curtains and letting the sun shine in! The sun warms your home naturally, which saves you money on your heating bill.
If it’s cloudy or at night, pull your curtains closed to insulate your windows even more.
Install a programmable or smart thermostat.
If your thermostat isn’t programmable, then you can’t adjust the temperature of your home unless you’re there. A programmable thermostat lets you create schedules that your heating system follows to adjust the temperature based on your preferences.
For example, if you aren’t going to be home during the day, you could program your thermostat to lower a few degrees while you’re away, and warm up just before you get back home.
Similarly, a smart thermostat is programmable, and savvy St. Louisians choose them because smart thermostats can learn your preferences and set themselves automatically.
Programmable thermostats are very inexpensive, but smart thermostats will cost you a bit more. However, for the money you’ll save and the convenience you’ll get, our service agreement, which includes two maintenance visits per year to prepare heating and cooling systems for their respective seasons and ensure they’re in good working order. These visits can reduce the likelihood of needing expensive residential heating repairs by mitigating the issue before it becomes major.
And heating systems that work well cost less to operate, which saves money.
Upgrade to an energy-efficient system.
Although your existing heating system can last about 10 to 15 years, if you’re noticing a major decline in efficiency and an increase in energy consumption after fewer than that, or if your heater repair bills are getting unmanageable, it could be worthwhile to upgrade to a more efficient heating system.
Although the cost of the replacement can be expensive, you’ll begin noticing a difference in your bills right away. So replace your heat pump, get a new furnace, or buy a new boiler to ultimately save you some major dough.
Looking for residential heating and air near you?
If you live in the St. Louis area and need expert help with your heating and cooling systems, your first call should be to Meyer Heating & Air at
314-845-1929.
We offer 24/7 emergency service, too, and will send a technician as soon as possible to help you restore the comfort of your home. Visit us at meyerair.com to request service, or call us directly.
