When winter arrives, not only does the air become more chilling – so do your energy bills. There are many reasons why the winter months tend to sap energy from our homes. Of course, there’s the need to heat your home, and that is always a large expenditure – in fact, the Department of Energy (DOE) indicates that heating your home accounts for about 45 percent of your energy bill. Add to that the added cost of lighting your home as the days are shorter, and your utility budget can make quite an impact on your wallet.
Fortunately, there are ways you can save energy during the winter that can help when it comes time for the utility bills. The DOE offers up a few tricks and tips that can keep heating bills manageable, all while helping you keep your home warmer and more comfortable for you and your family. An added benefit? Putting these tips into effect this winter will also help keep your home cooler once Old Man Winter leaves town and the warmer weather arrives again!
Six Tips to Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
- Make good use of your curtains. During the winter, open your curtains to let the sunshine in during the day, which will naturally provide a heat source for your home. Then, close them at night to help keep the heat inside. (Reverse the process in the summer.)
- Install a programmable or smart thermostat. That way, you can set your heater back a few degrees while you’re away or sleeping – a set it and forget it solution! Of course, if you have a smart thermostat, you can easily control temperatures, right from your smartphone or laptop!
- Ensure your home is protected against the elements. Many homes need air sealing, even if there are just small cracks or holes. And, if your home isn’t well-insulated, consider increasing the insulation. It can help keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
- And while you’re at it… Seal your air ducts, too, and make sure they’re properly insulated. This is especially important if they’re installed in an unheated area of your home, like a crawl space or an attic.
- Check doors and windows. Often, they’re not completely airtight around their perimeters, and this can cause heated or cooled air to slip out, and cold or hot air from outside to come in. Fortunately, adding some weatherstripping around doors and windows is a simple solution.
- Be a fan of your fans. Ceiling fans, that is. By setting your fans to spin clockwise in the winter, they’ll blow the heated air that rises back down. Obviously, you’ll want to set them counterclockwise during the summer months.
And, make sure you have a reliable contractor to help you with any heating concern.
When you choose Stafford Mechanical Services to help with your home heating, we’ll make sure your heating system is running as efficiently as possible, by providing you with annual maintenance and reliable, fast repair services. And, when the time comes to replace your system, we’ll offer you quality, high-efficiency Carrier® heating equipment. So, give us a call today at (860) 684-9485 to learn more about the products and services we provide. We look forward to helping you with all of your heating needs, including installation, maintenance and repair.
The cooler weather has arrived, and with it, the need to make sure your heating system is working properly. Have you turned your heating system on yet? If the answer is yes, is it keeping you as comfortable as possible? When you need help getting your heating system in good working order, it’s important to find a contractor you can rely on. When you choose Stafford Mechanical Services, Inc. for your heating needs, you’ll have no worries.
When you invested in your Carrier® heating system like a furnace, boiler or even a water heater you chose quality and craftsmanship. Your Carrier heating equipment is the heart of your home – keeping it cozy and comfortable, no matter how cold it gets outside. Not to mention, if you chose an ENERGY STAR® qualified model, you also selected home comfort that would not only keep you warm, but would provide energy efficiency and lower your utility bills.
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When it comes to cooling your home, you know the equipment you choose is an investment. Purchasing an air conditioning system is an expense, and one you shouldn’t take lightly. You want to make sure you choose a qualified contractor first and foremost – one who not only installs new systems, but can provide you with the service you need after the sale. You also want a contractor who can offer you the best equipment brands possible – like Carrier cooling products.
Ductless air conditioning seems to be all the buzz lately, and with good reason – this type of system is super-efficient, and there are options available that also allow it to provide heating in the cooler months. But many people still wonder if ductless AC really works as well as HVAC professionals say it does. You should know, many people are choosing ductless to cool their homes these days, and according to an article on the 
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It’s easy to take your home comfort system for granted. It works quietly in the background, helping you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. As long as you and your family are comfortable, you might not pay much attention to it at all. But, when something goes wrong, you’ll likely find yourself in a frustrating predicament either requiring costly repairs or potentially, even system replacement. But there’s good news – a little love goes a long way when it comes to your home’s heating and cooling equipment.