Written on: January 15, 2024
Who doesn’t want to keep their heating costs under control without spending the winter bundled up in extra sweaters? The key to saving energy is not turning the heat down to barely warm. The secret is using your furnace efficiently. That means helping your equipment work better, not harder, to produce heat. It also means making sure your home is set up so that heat isn’t wasted. Here’s how to make sure you get maximum efficiency from your furnace this winter.
Regular maintenance is important when it comes to keeping your furnace running at peak efficiency. When filters get clogged with dust and nozzles and other parts get gunked up with oil, your equipment needs to work harder to produce and push out heat. A well-maintained system can reduce your fuel use by as much as 10%!
Change or clean your filters regularly: monthly or every other month is best in the winter (and if you have central A/C, you should change them regularly all year round).
You should also make sure to schedule a professional tune-up once a year, ideally before or after the heating season. Our technicians will check for leaks; inspect and clean filters, blowers and burners, and run safety tests to make sure your heating system is ready for winter. Regular maintenance not only improves efficiency, it can also prevent breakdowns—eliminating the cost of repairs. If you’re signed up for one of our equipment service plans, an annual tune-up is included!
Used correctly, a programmable thermostat can help you lower your heating costs by 10% or more. Lower your thermostat to 58° or 60° when you’re asleep or out of the house, and raise it when you’re at home and awake. You can maximize your savings by setting the thermostat for 68° when you’re home—and layer up with your favorite sweater, but you’ll still save if you keep it a little higher.
A smart thermostat makes it easy: you can program it around your schedule, instead of manually changing the temp when you come and go. You can even control the temperature remotely with an app on your phone. That means you can set the temp higher when you are on your way home.
Unless you live in a brand-new home, it’s likely that as much as a third of the air in your home escapes via drafts around windows and doors. That’s like throwing money out the window—or door. You can invest in new insulation for your home to stop heat from escaping in winter (and keep cool air in in summer). You might also consider a duct-sealing service which can repair leaky ductwork. But even a weekend of DIY projects, like sealing up drafts with caulking, weatherstripping and expanding foam, can help save you 20% or more on heating costs.
In summer, we all know the humidity can make the air feel oppressive and warmer than it is. In winter, when running your heating system makes the air in your home feel dry, a whole-house humidifier can make it feel more comfortable. It will also make rooms feel just enough warmer that you can lower the thermostat a tad. More humidity in winter will also help reduce dry, itchy skin!
If you’re looking for a full-service company for prompt heating oil delivery, plus expert installation, maintenance and repair services in Litchfield County and surrounding areas in Connecticut, look no further than Mandola. Contact us for more information today.