Winter is officially here, and many homeowners in the Springfield, MO area are wondering how to save money on heating bills during the new year. Your friends at ATS Heating and Cooling can’t do much about Old Man Winter showing up unannounced and bringing unwelcome guests such as freezing temperatures, snow, and ice with him, but we can make some suggestions that will help you get the most from your home heating system this winter, starting with getting a furnace tune-up in Springfield. Here are our top eight tips to help Springfield homeowners save money during the winter months:
1. Schedule a Furnace Tune-Up
A furnace tune-up at your Springfield, MO home helps your HVAC system run efficiently and reliably throughout the winter while avoiding costly breakdowns. Remember that a furnace tune-up or regular furnace maintenance not only protects your home’s heating system but also helps to reduce energy costs and extends the lifespan of your system.
2. Use a Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats help to make your home’s HVAC system more efficient in a number of ways. Not only can you adjust your home’s temperature remotely, but “learning” thermostats actually anticipate your patterns and help to heat and cool your home optimally, even when you’re away.
3. Maximize Sunlight
Even in the winter, you’ve got a huge, free heat source right outside your windows. Letting the sunshine in allows natural heat to warm your home. Open curtains and blinds on windows that face the sun during the day and take advantage of this free source of heat throughout the winter!
4. Change Your Air Filter Regularly
This may be the most important thing you can do around the house to help extend the life of your furnace and make sure that your HVAC system is running efficiently. Air filters help to keep dust and debris out of the air, but if they’re not changed regularly, they become clogged and force your HVAC system to work harder to push air through. We’ll change your air filters for you as part of our annual 49-point check that comes with our Total Comfort VIP Maintenance Plan from ATS Heating & Cooling.
5. Turn Down the Thermostat
You might be surprised by how much you can save simply by lowering the settings on your thermostat by just one or two degrees. While this won’t interfere with your comfort, these small adjustments can make a big difference in your utility bill across an entire winter.
6. Change the Direction of Your Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans all have settings that change the direction in which the blades turn. In the winter, your fans should be set to rotate clockwise. Since warmer air naturally rises, this clockwise rotation helps to circulate the warm air from the ceiling to make the whole room feel more comfortable.
7. Don’t Close Vents and Doors to Unused Rooms
It may seem like closing off vents and doors in rooms you don’t use would prevent your furnace from trying to heat those rooms, but in actual fact, it makes your HVAC system work harder. The system is still trying to heat the whole house, including rooms it can’t reach.
8. Change Your Heating Habits
As we mentioned earlier, small changes can have a big impact on your heating bills. This may be as simple as wearing warmer clothes indoors or tossing an extra blanket on your bed at night.
With a little help from these simple tips, you and your family can stay warm and cozy this winter while also saving money on your heating bills. Of course, you’ll still be relying on your furnace, and if you experience any furnace trouble or need emergency repairs, trust ATS Heating and Cooling. Since 1997, we’ve been your go-to name for reliable furnace maintenance and repair services in Springfield and the surrounding Ozarks. Call 417-831-5344 for hassle-free scheduling today!
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