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Wisconsin winters bring brutal cold temperatures. These sub-freezing temps leave your furnace working overtime to keep your home warm and cozy. This could lead to drastic increases in your utilities unless you take steps to boost the efficiency of your heating system. If you find yourself cranking the thermostat more often as the temperatures dip this winter, consider the following expert heating tips to help combat the cold without adding stress to your furnace and causing a spike in your heating bills.
Keep Cold Air Out
The most basic thing you can do to combat the cold this winter is to keep the cold air outside while keeping warmth inside. Make sure all windows are shut tightly. Seal off any windows or doors that are especially drafty to block the wind from coming through the cracks. Limit your trips in and out of the house, keeping the doors closed as much as possible. If you have an attached garage, especially one that is heated, it may help to enter and exit through the garage door to limit the cold air that gets in.
Wear Extra Layers
Winter is a great time to sport your favorite fuzzy socks and oversized sweaters, and this helps lower your dependency on the furnace. Put on extra layers while you relax at home or snuggle up under a warm blanket. If you get the chills when you go to bed at night, consider a heated blanket or flannel sheets for extra warmth. You can even snuggle up with your loved ones during the winter months to stay a little warmer without touching the thermostat on those chilly nights.
Utilize the Sunlight
Even though the sun doesn’t seem to be doing much to relieve the cold during Wisconsin winter, you can use sunlight to boost the efficiency of your heating system. During the day, when the sun is shining directly through your windows, open the shades and let the sun warm your space. Conversely, close the window coverings at night and on cloudy days to block the cold.
Get Help From Ceiling Fans
While it may seem unhelpful to use ceiling fans for warmth, they do help. Switch your ceiling fans to move in a clockwise direction at a low speed when heating your home. This clockwise movement creates an updraft, which moves warm air that has risen to the top of the room and helps it recirculate with the air down below. The updraft also prevents a cool breeze from blowing on you while you sit below or near the fan.
Change Your Air Filters
Your furnace has air filters that block dust and debris from the system while allowing air to continue moving through. If the filters become excessively dirty, your furnace may have to work harder to provide heating to your home. Change your air filters every one to three months, depending on your furnace. Most furnace filters simply slip in and out and take only a couple of minutes to replace, making this a simple step in boosting the efficiency of your heating system.
Schedule Routine Maintenance
Maintenance is an essential service for your heating system and is required every year to keep the system running as it should. We recommend scheduling your annual maintenance in the early autumn to ensure we have time to make any needed repairs before the temperatures plummet.
During professional furnace maintenance, our technicians comb through your heating system. We look for signs of damage and excessive wear and tear that can hinder operation and lead to breakdowns and failures. We clean the system inside and out, lowering the strain on your furnace. We also tune certain parts of the system to ensure everything is in proper working condition so that your furnace works reliably, efficiently, and safely.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
A programmable thermostat allows you to set your temperature to change based on your schedule so that you don’t have to remember to adjust the device every time you come and go from your home. For example, the thermostat can be programmed to a lower degree while everyone is away from home during the day. You can also have it programmed to turn on just before you arrive home to a warmer, comfortable setting. This helps avoid heating your home while it sits empty all day but still allows you to be warm and cozy the minute you walk through the door.
Taking it a step further, smart thermostats also allow for programming based on your schedule. However, these devices may be able to learn patterns and adjust on their own based on previous situations. Smart thermostats may also provide you with usage data, helping you make better decisions on when to raise and lower the temperature in your home to cut down on heating costs.
Upgrade Your Furnace
An older furnace may not be as efficient as it once was. As your system ages, you may see your heating bill climb, suggesting added stress and strain to keep your home comfortable. If your furnace is more than 10 years old and losing efficiency, let our technicians help you find a new furnace to restore efficiency while providing ultimate comfort to your home.
Switch to a Heat Pump
A heat pump provides heating and cooling by circulating air pulled from the ground. For winter heating, the pump pulls heat from the ground and may produce heat inside the system as well. The heat pump then pumps this heated air into your home and pushes cold air out. These systems are environmentally friendly and energy efficient, lowering your dependence on fuel and keeping your utility costs down.
Install Zoning System
HVAC zoning allows you to regulate the temperature in different areas of your home using separate thermostats. This means that you can keep some rooms warmer than others while heating other areas less and lowering your heating costs. Dampers inside the air ducts open and close in response to the thermostat for that area of the home, either allowing more heat to the vents or blocking heat from traveling through. Zoned heating is ideal for larger homes and homes with areas that are less used in the winter months.
Your Local HVAC Experts
For nearly seven decades, Black-Haak has been a trusted partner in heating services and home comfort in the Fox Valley area. Our trusted technicians have extensive experience with heating and cooling systems, providing you with top repairs, replacements, and maintenance services. We also have a team of skilled plumbers to help you tackle all your plumbing problems and upgrades. We offer comprehensive drain cleaning, professional pipe and drain repairs, and plumbing installation services. Finally, we have a crew of licensed electricians who can keep your home powered through professional repairs and installations. You can count on us for all your home comfort and convenience needs to keep your home systems functioning at optimal levels.
Contact Black-Haak today to keep your heating system more efficient.
