When Jack Frost starts nipping at your nose, you know it means two things are just around the corner: the holiday season and winter heating bills. You don’t have to break the bank to stay warm this season. Follow these simple tips and save some cash for presents.Weatherstrip and Caulk

By making sure doors and windows are sealed well around the edges, you are essentially keeping warm air in and cold air out.

Programmable thermostat

Setting back your thermostat even one degree can make a noticeable difference on winter heating bills. Use a programmable thermostat to reduce energy usage when you’re away from home or during the night, saving the majority of the energy for when you’re up and moving around the house.

Water Heater

During the winter, your storage tank water heater uses a great deal of energy to keep water warm even when it’s not being used. You have a couple of options for savings on your water heater. If you have an older water heater, you can insulate it so that it doesn’t have to work so hard to keep the water warm, or you can switch to a tankless water heater that only uses energy when you use hot water.

Insulation

Have you checked your insulation lately? Older homes had different insulation requirements, so it could be that your home could use some additional insulation. To find out where you most need it, consider getting an energy audit to see where you’re losing most of your heat energy.

Heating System Maintenance

A heating system that runs efficiently uses less energy than one that doesn’t. To keep your system running at its best, schedule annual maintenance as recommended by the manufacturer.

South-Facing Windows

You can use solar energy without ever installing solar panels. Simply let the sun warm your home by opening the window coverings on south-facing windows during sunny days.

The great thing about these tips for saving energy in the winter is that most of them also will save on energy during the summer.

If you have questions about additional ways to save on winter heating bills, or if you would like professional assistance with any of these tips, contact us at Overland Park Heating & Cooling. We’ve been serving the greater Kansas City area since 1983.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Overland Park, Kansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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