Setting your thermostat correctly during winter can be one of the easiest and most effective ways to save money on your monthly energy bill. According to Energy Star, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program designed to help homeowners reduce their energy consumption, the optimal temperature for your home is 68 degrees when you’re indoors and awake.
Turning down the heat 10 to 15 degrees when asleep or away from home can also help to conserve energy. Taking simple steps like these can not only help you save money on your energy bills, but it will also make more efficient use of resources and improve comfort levels throughout your house.
Lower Indoor Temperatures Could Mean a Better Night’s Rest
When it comes to your sleep, the climate of your bedroom is just as important as the amount of sleep you get. Lower bedroom temperatures can help lull you into a deeper, more restful sleep. Colder temperatures in your house force your body to work harder to produce heat, which can put you into a deeper state of sleep and leave you feeling much more alert and energetic in the morning.
And sleeping with cooler temperatures has many other benefits. It helps preserve natural melatonin cycles, regulates cortisol levels for stress management and even reduces inflammation throughout the body. Sleeping with slightly cooler temperatures is also much better for your health. Night time overheating can impair deeper stages of sleep, resulting in less restorative sleep overall.
The Best Thermostat Settings for Winter
Keeping your house warm without driving up your energy bills can be a challenge. The best way to optimize efficiency and ensure maximum comfort is to properly set your thermostat. During the day while you’re away, try leaving it at a cooler temperature of around 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, once nighttime approaches, schedule the heat to rise to between 68 and 71 degrees so that, by the time you get home, it will feel nice and cozy.
If needed, you may also want to program automatic changes so that your thermostat will make slight adjustments for certain days or times of the week to account for weather shifts. Paying attention to weather forecasts can help you anticipate sudden drops in temperature and schedule your thermostat accordingly.
Why Overworking Your Heater Can Waste Money
When it’s cold outside, cranking up the heat inside may seem like the obvious choice, but it can force your system to work harder, eventually leading to inefficiency. While a lower temperature may not be as comfortable at first, you may notice a gradual increase in efficiency as your system generates nearly as much heat with far less cost. The more your system has to work to heat your home, the more inefficient and energy-hungry it becomes.
When you turn up the heat, your system may have to run longer cycles as outdoor afternoon temperatures fluctuate. Moreover, if the heat remains higher than what’s necessary for comfort, drafts or cold spots can occur inside. These little pockets of entropy can cause your system to work harder without providing any additional benefit.
Heater Maintenance From a Professional Can Help
While winter can be beautiful, the chill of the season places special demands on your furnace and HVAC system. Regular Heating and AC service can ensure that your furnace runs smoothly and without interruption throughout the colder months. It can also maximize your energy savings, minimize costly breakdowns and even reduce fire risks. Furthermore, experienced professionals can ensure that your system is adequate for maintaining optimal comfort without wasting energy or causing your system to overheat. During an inspection, a technician will perform diagnostics and repairs to prepare your system for the stresses of the winter season.
Additionally, they can identify parts that may need to be replaced in the near future. While furnace maintenance is an important part of your annual HVAC service cycle, heating equipment doesn’t last forever, and eventually the cost of repairs will outweigh the cost of a new system. Seasonal HVAC service includes checking the thermostat, filters, blower motor and fan, testing the system’s emergency shut-off function, inspecting all the hoses and ducts for leaks or dirt build-up, and calibrating the system to ensure maximum efficiency. It’s important to keep up with routine maintenance to ensure that your system won’t break down unexpectedly in the depths of winter.
Money-Saving Tips for Heating Your House
A few small changes to how you use your HVAC system can have a big impact. You can start by changing the way you control your home’s temperature, perhaps switching to a smart thermostat and lowering the temperature while you’re away or sleeping. During particularly cold winters, reducing the heat by just 2 to 3 degrees can result in significant savings. Additionally, you can keep thermal loss to a minimum by sealing air leaks around windows, doors and other cracks and crevices where air escapes. If you have drafty old single-pane windows, consider investing in extra insulation or window treatments to keep the warm air inside.
Covering windows with heavy blinds or drapes in colder months can block drafts and prevent warm air from escaping. Installing a new control panel, such as a Nest, can also help regulate temperatures while saving money when you’re away from home. Additionally, making sure heating ducts and vents are regularly cleaned will keep warm air flowing without waste or blockages. Finally, putting plastic over windows in rooms you don’t often use will conserve heat throughout the winter.
Yearly Maintenance Can Help You Save Money on Heating
Without professional service, a heater can deteriorate from the natural entropy of its components as well as a buildup of dirt and debris. Not only does age and dust decrease the efficiency of your system, but it may increase the chances of malfunctions and expensive repairs in the future.
One of the simplest and most effective ways to boost your heater’s efficiency is with a professional deep cleaning. Not only will this help enhance your heater’s performance, but it will save you money in the long run by reducing your energy needs. Deep cleaning involves removing any dust buildup and debris lodged within the unit’s inner parts. During a cleaning, it’s also a good idea to change the air filter, which can get clogged with prolonged use.
The Benefits of Heater Maintenance
Routine service can keep your system working reliably, reducing waste and cutting your heating costs. During an inspection, a technician can identify any potential safety hazards or repair needs, reducing the likelihood of gas leaks and other breakdowns. Moreover, regular service can extend your unit’s life, keeping it in service and stretching your dollars as far as they’ll go.
The benefits of HVAC service go beyond keeping your energy bills down. A technician can detect and resolve minor issues before they become more serious. Furthermore, regular heater maintenance keeps the air quality in your home at its best by removing dust particles, which can negatively impact your health.
How We Can Help
All Seasons Toledo is the go-to choice for heater service this winter. Our expert technicians have years of experience working on all types of heating appliances, so you can feel confident knowing your system and thermostat is in the best hands possible. From performing tune-ups to unclogging ducts and more, we’ll work to ensure that your home stays warm and comfortable all winter. We’re all about customer service, so we’ll never push you to buy something you don’t really need. Our team will listen carefully to your needs and only recommend the services that are perfect for your household.
We want what’s best for our customers, so you can trust us when it comes to finding exactly what you require in a quality product or service. We go the extra mile to tailor our services to our clients’ individual circumstances, guaranteeing satisfaction every time.
Wrapping Up
Keeping your home comfortable during cold weather doesn’t have to be difficult. Regular maintenance and proper HVAC settings are two key components that can play an important role in managing the temperature and comfort level of your home. Heater service involves occasional cleanings, checking for signs of wear or damage, and properly storing your unit when not in use during the summer months. Properly adjusting the heat indoors helps you maximize energy efficiency while providing a comfortable and consistent temperature throughout your home.
The right heat settings can help you save hundreds of dollars per year, and here at All Seasons Toledo, we have the tools to do the job. Our experienced technicians can perform comprehensive inspections for heating systems, pinpointing exactly the thermostat settings that will keep costs low while still keeping you comfortable.
At All Seasons Toledo, we’re dedicated to providing our customers with the highest-quality heating and cooling services available. Our trained technicians take pride in their work and can evaluate and repair HVAC systems in any home. Whether you need furnace maintenance or air conditioning service, you can trust us to get the job done quickly and professionally. Don’t hesitate to call us today for a convenient inspection.
