How to Improve Energy Efficiency in Your Home Heating
Great Ideas That Work for Every Budget
Energy efficiency is not only about lowering the thermostat and adding layers—it’s about how to make your heating equipment work less hard. There are lots of ways to improve energy efficiency in your home—and there are tips for every budget.
An Annual Tune-up
The best way to improve efficiency is to get a tune-up every year. A tune-up gives our trained technicians the chance to make sure your heating equipment is running properly. By cleaning and recalibrating your system, it will operate better—and that means it will have to work less hard to keep your home and family comfortable. That translates to lower bills, as well as fewer breakdowns and a longer lifespan for your equipment.
Our expert heating technicians clean, inspect, test, and prepare your furnace or boiler to make sure it’s ready and running at peak efficiency for the fall and winter months, including:
- Calibrating your thermostat
- Checking overall heating function
- Checking electrical connections
- Testing safety and limit switches
- Cleaning and testing burners
Low-cost Ways to Save
A tune-up is a pretty low-cost measure to improve energy efficiency that offers a great return on investment, lowering energy bills by 15% to 20% depending on your system. Here are some other ways to spend a little and save a lot on heating costs:
- Eliminate drafts. 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. 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.
- Change your filter. A dirty air filter can restrict air flow, making your heating equipment work harder to heat your home. That uses more fuel and increases bills. The filter protects your heating equipment from dirt and dust, which helps prevent problems that can lead to a breakdown—and an expensive repair.
- Install a programmable or smart thermostat. Used correctly, a programmable thermostat can help you lower your heating costs by 10% or more. To maximize your savings, set the thermostat for 68° when you’re at home and awake—and layer up with your favorite sweater. Lower the temperature setting by 10° for the hours you’re asleep or out of the house.
No-cost Efficiency Boosters
Here are some easy ways to lower your energy bills that don’t cost you a dime.
- Turn down your water heater. Most water heaters have a default setting of 140° but that’s not only dangerous, it’s also inefficient. Reducing the temperature setting to 120° will meet all your hot water needs and save as much as 10% in heating costs. When you consider that heating water—for bathing, dishwashing, laundry and more—accounts for close to 20% of your heating costs, you may want to talk to us about upgrading your water heater to a high-efficiency model that can help you save even more.
- Let the sun in. Leaving curtains and blinds open during the day lets the sun warm your rooms—for free. Closing them at night helps keep the heat in. Did you know the heat from the sun can warm your rooms enough that you can lower your thermostat and use your boiler or furnace less?
- Reverse ceiling fans. Switch the direction of your ceiling fan in winter and run it at a low speed. The blades will gently push warm air that rises toward the ceiling back down toward floor level. This is particularly useful for great rooms and any high-ceilinged spaces.
Investing in Efficiency
Even with regular maintenance, efficiency declines over time. If your heating equipment is more than 20 years old, your best investment could be a new high-efficiency heating system. A new heating system can drastically cut energy costs, while improving your comfort. Bolkema’s pros can help you choose the best equipment for your needs and your budget.
Contact us today for information on a tune-up, new equipment, or to schedule a delivery.