The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) of your building is no less than a lifeline. Irrespective of the season, it maintains the required temperatures in your house throughout the year.
Winters in Chicago are magical. But with the magic of snow comes the cold wind that can make you shiver even inside the house. The HVAC does its part in keeping the house toasty and warm so that you don’t have to bundle yourself in layers of clothing.
But, with continuous usage, you will have to keep an eye on the energy bill and try to save money where you can. By following a few simple and easy steps, you can have a warm home and a relatively less scary energy bill.
HVAC Tips for Reducing Heating Bills in the Winter
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1. The thermostat is the Key Factor
- Having a programmable thermostat can save a good amount of energy and money. When you are home, you can adjust the temperatures accordingly, but what about when you need to go out?
- Some people don’t mind turning it off and letting the house go cold. They can wait until the HVAC kicks up heat. But what if you don’t belong to that category? Does it mean you will have it leave it on all day?
- A programmable thermostat can be set to be turned on or off at certain timings. Use your smartphone and create a schedule for the thermostat to automatically turn on before you reach home. This will save money and also keep the house warm by the time to enter it.
- Similar to how thermostats work in summer if you keep it around 68 degrees when at home, you can save money as the heat is consistent and will steadily increase and keep the house warm.
- Setting the thermostat closer to the outdoor temperature will save money but it cannot always be done. So, you can keep changing the temperatures once in a while to maintain the overall temperature without burning a hole in your pocket.
2. Insulate the House
- No matter how much you adjust the thermostat, if you cannot keep the cold air from seeping into the house, you will invariably have to pay a huge bill.
- The HVAC will have to work harder to keep the house warm and don’t we know what this means?
- Start sealing up the cracks and gaps before winter sets in. Don’t wait until the last minute. Caulk the area around windows, doors, vents, and pipes. Cover window panes with plastic.
- Use thermal curtains to maintain the temperatures in the room. Close the damper of the fireplace when it is not in use.
- Create partitions in the house by draping blankets and curtains between used and unused rooms. This will stop the heat from spreading into rooms you don’t use.
The most important thing to do is to get the HVAC services by professionals. This will ensure that the unit is in good working condition.
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