Your heating system does a lot of work during Texas’s winters, especially this year. With two big winter storms that slammed us one after the other, your heater could use a break. Not to mention, your wallet might need one too. Ellis Air Conditioning & Heating is here to give you some tips for finishing this winter off strong. With these life hacks, you will enjoy your heating system without breaking the bank.
Program Your Thermostat
You have probably heard this before, but you might have postponed this task. Programming your thermostat is a big game-changer in the HVAC world, but most people don’t want to take the time to learn how to program it. It can be a little tricky, but with a few trials and errors, you should be able to figure it out. If not, it’s worth calling the manufacturer.
When you program your thermostat, keep the temperature cool when you are away from home and when you are sleeping. There’s no need to have the heater running if no one is there or awake to enjoy it. Cutting back on this extra heating will make a noticeable difference in your next energy bill. That’s why we recommend taking the time to figure out and program your thermostat.
Eliminate Drafts
Drafts are the areas in your home where cold air from the outside is entering the inside. This air cools down your home, which means your heating system needs to work harder to keep your home at a desirable temperature. This makes your energy costs go up because it’s causing extra strain on the system to warm your home.
Eliminating drafts is simple. Start by adding caulk or weatherstripping around doors and windows, and wherever you feel drafts or see daylight through the frame. Make sure air isn’t escaping or entering through your fireplace either.
Use Your Ceiling Fans
If you have ceiling fans installed, you can take advantage of them during the winter too! Ceiling fans can augment the performance of your heating system. You simply need to turn the fan clockwise and have it run at the lowest speed. As the fan turns, it will pull cool air up from the ground and force heated air from the ceiling to come down where you can feel it.
Change the Filters Regularly
During the winter months, change the filters on your furnace monthly. That’s because your system is working constantly, so it needs to be maintained more often too. Once these cold months are over, you only need to change the filters once every three months.
Ellis Air Conditioning & Heating Is Here To Help
If your heating system isn’t performing efficiently, get in touch with Ellis Air Conditioning & Heating right away. Our team has many years of experience in the HVAC industry and we have solved all types of problems. We can repair, replace, install, or maintain your HVAC system year-round. Give us a call today to get started.