When the weather outside gets frightful does the thermostat on your home creep up to compensate? This is hard on both your heating bill and the planet. These 4 tips can help you to keep your costs lower and your comfort level higher.
- Use a programmable thermostat. Not a new idea, but this one should be repeated. When no one is home such as during the day while you are at the office or when you are sleeping. Frankly you will sleep better in a cooler room and will wake up fresher. With one of these the furnace temperature will automatically reduce at a given time of day or night.
- Add Moisture to the Air. When the air in your home gets too dry you’ll be tempted to turn up the heat. Add a humidifier. You can comfortably inhabit a space at 2 to 3 degrees lower if the air has the “right” humidity level.
- Practice Zoning. If there are rooms in your home that you don’t use such as guest bedrooms, then close the vents in those rooms and keep the doors shut. This will force the air into other parts of the home. Make sure you’re not heating uninsulated areas of your home,such as the garage, by opening the door only when needed.
- Switch To A High Efficiency Furnace. According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation older furnaces may be running at only 60% efficiency. A new high efficiency model runs at 89%-96%. This will translate into long term savings to you, especially if you remember to replace the air filters regularly so the fan is not working overtime to push warm air past the clogged dust and debris. When pricing your high efficiency you must remember that you will have to change your hot water heater to a high efficiency as well to meet building code. Another long term saving benefit (go with gas for the most savings)