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6 Ways to Improve Heating Efficiency

“If only there was a way we could pay more to heat our home this winter.”

It’s unlikely you’ll hear anyone utter those words. Yet folks are always on the hunt for ways to cut heating costs. After all, who couldn’t use a few extra bucks in their pocket? Whether your home heating system is ten years old or brand-spanking new, follow the below tips to reduce your monthly heating costs while still maintaining comfortable indoor conditions.

 1. Clean or Replace the Filter Regularly

While there’s no magic timetable for cleaning or replacing your air filter, most manufacturers recommend doing so approximately every 8 weeks to remove dirt and dust and help your heating system run more efficiently. Households with smokers, allergy or asthma sufferers, or pets that shed may need to replace their filters more often.

 2. Use Your Ceiling Fans

Think your ceiling fan is a one-trick summertime pony? Think again. Come winter, switch ceiling fans to run in reverse (on low) to push heat back down into your living spaces where you need it most. This means you need less heat from your system to remain warm and comfortable.

 3. Check for Air Leaks

Drafty windows and doors let cold air in, meaning your heating system has to work harder to maintain a desired temperature. Seal any cracks or gaps and replace damaged or missing weather-stripping as needed.

 4. Harness the Power of the Sun

During the day, open the window coverings on all windows facing the sun to tap into the power of nature’s heat source. As night starts to fall, cover windows to retain as much of that heat as possible.

 5. Add a Zone or Two

Simply put, a home with only one zone and thermostat is sure to experience some wasted heat. After all, it’s highly unlikely that every room or level of your home is occupied all day (and night) long. To conserve heat, let Messmer Mechanical recommend how to sub-divide your home into multiple zones, each with its own programmable thermostat. Multi-zone heating and cooling allows you to enjoy fine-tuned comfort where you spend the most time and save money where you don’t. Choose smart thermostats for ultimate control and energy savings. For example, if you’ll be home much later than expected,  adjust the temperature setting from your smartphone or tablet to make your home nice and toasty just before you arrive.

 6. Annual Preventive Maintenance

Another great way to keep heating costs in check is with annual preventative maintenance, the kind performed by the home comfort professionals at Messmer Mechanical.  It’s a service that should be performed annually so, if you’re overdue, why not contact us today.