With winter on the way, we will start relying more on our heating systems to keep us warm. More than likely, you have already started using your heating system to keep you warm during this fall. While you have been using your heating system more, have you noticed that your energy bills have significantly increased at all? It is normal for them to go up a little bit when we start using our heaters, however, it should never just drastically jump up. If you notice this, it can be a sign that you are making mistakes with running your heating system in your Staunton, IL home. Here we will be explaining some common mistakes that people make when running their heating system during the fall and winter.
Setting the Temperature Too High
In cases where people are looking to save money on their energy bills, it is recommended by The Department of Energy that you set the desired temperature of your home to around 68°F. To add to this, whenever you are sleeping or are not home, you should have your desired temperature set to something lower. The goal of this is to have your furnace to only run as long as it has to in order to get to the desired temperature to keep you warm. This works a lot better than just shutting down your furnace for a time as it will take your heating system a lot more time and energy to get back to your desired temperature than if you just keep it at a reasonable setting.
Having the Wrong Type of Thermostat For Your Heating System
There are many types of thermostats out there, but for the best savings, you should invest in getting a programmable or smart thermostat for your Staunton, IL home. These modern-day programmable thermostats allow you to set a schedule throughout the day. This makes it easier to practice the saving tips we discussed before, and the best part is you do not have to adjust it after you program it. If you get a smart thermostat, you can program and control it through your smart devices like your cell phone. Smart thermostats can even learn your heating patterns and adjust themselves to bring you the best heating with the most optimal efficiency.
Lacking Proper Insulation
If you are finding that your home is losing too much heating too quickly, it could be a sign that your insulation is inadequate, or you do not have enough. Without enough insulation or the right type of it, you will not be able to prevent heat transfer, which means the insulation will not be able to hold the heat in your home.
Not Having Your Heating System Serviced
Even if you have performed all of the steps above or any other techniques you have learned in order to save, you may still find your energy bills are too high. One big mistake people make is not having their furnaces serviced and cleaned out regularly. If your furnace is dirty or has any leaks in it, it will be working harder than it needs to in order to keep your home at the desired temperature, wasting energy in the process. Remember to have your furnace serviced and cleaned out regularly by a professional in order to keep your home warm and your bills lower.
If you are looking for an HVAC company that can assist you with servicing your furnace, cleaning it out, or answer any of your questions about keeping your Staunton, IL home warm optimally, give our team of experts over at Neuhaus Heating and Cooling a call today!
