The average electric bill in San Antonio is between $150 and $160 per month—and for houses that are poorly insulated or have an inefficient HVAC system, this bill can be even higher during the winter months. Fortunately, there are a few quick and simple things you can do to improve your home’s overall heating efficiency, helping drive these costs down. Below, we discuss five ways you can cut your heating costs during a San Antonio winter.
Perform Annual Maintenance
As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”—and when you’re dealing with the various parts of an HVAC system that can break down, an annual inspection and maintenance appointment is crucial. Scheduling a seasonal inspection of your home heater can help solve problems before they start, ensure optimal performance year-round, and keep your monthly energy bill as low as possible.
At North East Air Conditioning, Heating, and Plumbing, we offer a heating maintenance agreement that provides one annual A/C preventative maintenance inspection and one annual heater/furnace preventative maintenance inspection. During the time the agreement is active, we waive diagnostic fees for any HVAC or plumbing services and provide priority scheduling for repairs.
Change the Direction of Your Ceiling Fan
If you have high ceilings in your home, changing the direction the blades spin can help direct warm air down into the room instead of letting it rise and stay near the ceiling.
During the spring and summer, your fan blades should spin in a counterclockwise direction, creating a breezy cooling effect by directing air down into the room. In the fall and winter, switch your blades to spin clockwise so they’ll recirculate the warm air down without causing an uncomfortable, chilly draft.
Check Your Building Envelope
Your building envelope refers to your windows and doors, or the parts of your home that are designed to open and close. A leaky building envelope can run up your energy bills anytime of the year. If you have damaged weather sealing around your windows and doors, cold air can infiltrate your home, forcing your heater to work harder and less efficiently. It’s important to check your weather sealing regularly and replace any sealing that has gaps or other leaks.
Open Sun-Facing Blinds
You may also want to consider using natural sources of heat to help keep your home warm. If the sun is shining and your house has windows that face the south or east, opening your blinds in the morning and closing them in the evening can help the sun heat your home. West-facing blinds can be opened during the afternoon and evening to take advantage of the setting sun.
Adjust Your Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat can cut your energy costs by increasing and decreasing your thermostat settings on a programmed schedule. Over time, a smart thermostat can “learn” your habits, allowing it to automatically adjust the temperature based on your typical schedule. Decreasing your home’s temperature while you’re out of the house can also help your furnace run more efficiently.
If you’re interested in more ways to reduce your heating costs and improve your home’s efficiency, North East Air Conditioning, Heating, and Plumbing can help. We specialize in diagnosing, repairing, and replacing heaters and furnaces. Give us a call today at (210) 658-0111 or visit our website to learn more about the services we offer.
Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash
