Whether your existing heater is brand new or getting older, there are ways that you can boost energy efficiency while spending very little money, if any at all. Keep reading to learn our tips for helping your heater operate with greater efficiency in the coming winter season.
Then give our team a call to schedule your heating installation in Portland if you need one. We’re also here to help with other heating services like maintenance and repairs. Taking good care of your heater will go a long way toward helping it to operate at its best and last for longer.
Check Doors and Windows
When it comes to maintaining an efficient heater, you want to make sure that you’re keeping the heat inside your home. Cracks around your windows and doors can allow warmth to escape, ultimately leaving your heater working harder than it needs to.
Your windows may need professional attention if there are gaps, but you can purchase weather stripping for your doors that helps create a tighter seal. This is a small investment to make that will pay off significantly over the years and can easily be updated whenever needed as the stripping wears out.
Add Insulation
It’s also a good idea to check the insulation and ensure that heat is staying inside your home. Otherwise, you run the risk of heat escaping through your roof as it rises up. Insulation helps absorb heat and keep it lower inside so that your home can maintain a consistent temperature as it gets colder outside.
This helps your heater to not work as hard when heating up your home since less heat is getting lost to the outdoors. Experts estimate that you should add more insulation every 10 to 15 years. However, there may be factors that negatively affect insulation, meaning you need to blow in more insulation sooner than that.
Check Your Thermostat Settings
The US Department of Energy website states that you should set your thermostat to 68°F for heating in the winter time. Every degree higher than that is costing you more money and adding strain to your heater.
68°F is also the absolute highest you should be setting your heater, and many days you should set it down lower for more efficient results. Realistically, your heater can only warm up your home so much against outside temperatures.
Bundle Up
It can be tempting to want to set your thermostat higher, but if you bundle up to stay warm that can help you make the adjustment to lower thermostat settings. Invest in electric heating blankets and wear layers indoors to stay warm when temperatures dip lower. You’ll be glad that you took these steps when your energy bill arrives and your expenses are lower than usual.
Please call Sydni, our Office Extraordinaire, to schedule your next appointment! We will take care of you from there!