Many homeowners deciding to take action to save energy during the heating season will employ one main strategy: they’ll commit to lowering the temperature on the thermostat and accept cooler temperatures all winter. While that’s one effective way to lower your home’s heating load, it’s certainly not the only way. Following are some tried-and-true strategies for reducing the amount of energy required to keep your northeast Ohio home warm.
- Lower temperatures in the winter with a programmable thermostat. You can program the thermostat to a lower temperature when you’re away at work all day or when the household is sleeping at night. This way, during times when family members are awake, home and active, the home remains at a comfortable temperature.
- Check and replace the HVAC filter. When the furnace filter gets clogged with dust and debris, the blower motor must work harder to push air through the filter and distribute it via ductwork into the rest of the house. This wastes energy, stresses parts, and results in inconsistent comfort levels in your home. Get in the habit of inspecting the air filter once a month and changing (or cleaning) it when it looks dirty.
- Seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior where heat escapes in the winter (and enters in the summer). This can be done from the inside or outside, depending on the location and type of leak. Caulk, spray foam or weatherstripping can be used to seal air leaks.
- Upgrade insulation throughout the house. When you have adequate insulation for our cold-winter climate, heat stays in your home longer, and you give your furnace a break.
- Replace old and leaky windows with Energy-Star certified models.
- Consider scheduling a professional energy audit during which technicians perform a number of tests to determine where air and energy is escaping your home. Once you have this information, you’re better equipped to comprehensively seal air leaks, upgrade insulation, and install energy-efficient windows.
For help saving energy and reducing the heating load in your Lorain area home, please contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace load and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Neil-Lockhart/Shutterstock”
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area