When the Oklahoma City, OK winter is at its coldest, you may be tempted to have your heater running all the time to stay comfortable. But unfortunately, making that choice will cause your monthly energy bills to skyrocket. For this reason, it can feel like you have to choose between staying warm and spending more money than you can afford.
However, if you’re willing to be proactive, there’s no reason you need to make that choice any longer. There are multiple measures you can take to improve the energy efficiency of your household heating system. That way, it won’t cost you nearly as much money to have the heat turned up during the cold season.
1. Schedule Yearly Heating Maintenance
Professional heating maintenance is a quick and affordable service, yet its benefits can be massive for your budget. Most notably, scheduling a heating tune-up at least once each year will greatly improve the appliance’s energy efficiency. At All Tech Heat & Air, our technicians will be happy to perform this service for your Oklahoma City home.
During the tune-up, our team will thoroughly clean your heating system, check the status of its components, inspect it for any mechanical issues, and make adjustments to improve its performance. They’ll also switch out the dirty air filter for a clean one. These measures will allow the appliance to run more smoothly and conserve energy. Plus, it will provide all of the following advantages for your household.
- Better indoor air quality
- Improved comfort
- Fewer heating repairs
- Longer heating system lifespan
2. Replace the Air Filter Regularly
To keep your heating unit running as efficiently as possible, you must regularly switch out its air filter. Whenever the appliance is cycling, the air filter is responsible for catching a variety of airborne contaminants. That way, they get trapped in the filter rather than pulled into the appliance and distributed around the house.
The more you run your heater, though, the more packed with contaminant particles its air filter becomes. And if you don’t replace it quickly enough, it will eventually become clogged. That will not only prevent it from doing its job but also restrict your heating system’s airflow. Because it will become harder for the unit to pull air through the filter, it will have to expend much more energy to circulate warm air. As a result, your monthly energy bills will increase, and your furnace will be more likely to malfunction or break down.
Throughout the cold season, make a point to replace your furnace filter at least once every couple of months. If you’re unsure, you can always check the filter’s status by holding it up to a light and seeing if it shines through it. If it doesn’t, the air filter is dirty and needs to be switched out for a new one.
3. Install Quality Attic Insulation
When your home doesn’t feature high-quality attic insulation, it can greatly impact the efficiency of your heating system. During the winter, the warm air from your heater will naturally rise toward the top of your house. Once it reaches your attic, much of it will linger there or leak out through the roof. The heat in the attic is not doing much good for you and your family members. So, your heating appliance must cycle for longer to warm your living space successfully. That adds to your home’s energy usage and puts unnecessary wear and tear on your HVAC equipment.
When you have quality attic insulation, such as spray foam insulation, it works as a barrier to that rising hot air. Instead of lingering in your attic, it will be kept in the lower sections of your household. This will lead to more even heat distribution, more consistent comfort, and lower monthly heating bills.
4. Schedule Duct Cleaning
If it has been more than a couple of years since you had your home’s ductwork professionally cleaned, you should consider getting it done. Your air ducts will inevitably get dirty over time as dust, dirt, mold, pollen, dander, and pest droppings accumulate. For one thing, many of those particles will get picked up by the air your HVAC system circulates. That can worsen your indoor air quality and fill your home with unpleasant odors.
Dirty air ducts can also make it much harder for your heater to do its job. When the ducts are obstructed by pollutants, there’s not as much space for the heating system to circulate air. So, it has to increase its air pressure to successfully distribute heat, which uses significantly more energy. When you bring in professional duct cleaners, they’ll clear out the dirt and grime while also inspecting the ductwork for leaks or other damage. If they find any problems, you can have them repaired before they can cause further negative effects on your household.
5. Purchase a Programmable Thermostat
If you haven’t already upgraded to a programmable thermostat in your home, now is as good a time as any. Also known as smart thermostats, these modern devices are a great way to conserve energy and improve your comfort.
Smart thermostats allow you to program them to automatically raise or lower the temperature at specific times every day. You can save money by lowering the temperature while sleeping and not at home. So, if you’re prone to leaving the heat cranked on accidentally when you leave for work, you can set the thermostat to ensure that no longer happens.
A programmable thermostat will also track your HVAC-related habits and provide interesting data. You can use this data to identify ways you and your family may be wasting energy and make improvements.
6. Seal Household Air Leaks
During the chilly winter, having air leaks around your home could put a ton of extra pressure on your heating system. When the heat turns on, those leaks will allow warm air to escape your home and cold drafts to come in. So, your heater will have to work much harder to bring your dwelling to a comfortable temperature.
If you want to improve your heating system’s efficiency, take some time to locate any air leaks in your home and seal them. The best places to look for these gaps are along the outer edges of your doorways and windows. Usually, a reliable way to locate them is by feeling around with your hand for any unusual airflow. If you find any, you can seal them using caulking and weather stripping from the hardware store.
At All Tech Heat & Air, we’ve been faithfully serving residents of the Oklahoma City area for over 20 years. Whether you need heating or air conditioning services, we offer expert maintenance, repairs, and installations. Our team can also assist you with the best geothermal systems. Our licensed and certified technicians will answer any questions you have and go above and beyond to provide top-tier customer service. If you’re ready to make an appointment, simply contact us at All Tech Heat & Air today!
