Winter comes with a lot of surprises—snow, coziness, hot chocolate…and electric bills. While the perks are great, no one wants to be lying under a blanket—all warmed up—with their mind drifting toward thoughts of increasing energy bills, followed by an urge to turn off the heating.
Are you someone who only turns on the heating system once it’s freezing cold and your family has started wearing jackets inside the house? You’re not alone.
According to the Energy Information Administration, heating and cooling alone made up 42% of electricity bills in 2018.
But what you may not know is that your home’s heating system has to work harder due to structural problems in your home—which results in higher consumption of electrical units. Here are some of the upgrades you can make around the house to help your heating system work more efficiently:
The $1 Draft Test
If a $1 bill can be inserted through the seams of your doors and windows, it is sufficient space for heat to escape through these mini-tunnels.
Sealing up these air gaps with insulating strips will not only help you lower your energy bills during winter, but will also prove to be beneficial for your HVAC system during summer. This is a cost-effective solution for making your HVAC system work efficiently throughout the year.
The Attic Door
It is very easy to overlook attic door insulation. But the sneaky little gaps in your attic door will attract—expensive-heated air, making your heating system work constantly to increase the temperature of the space.
So when you’re insulating your doors and windows in other parts of the house, pay attention to improper insulation in your attic door.
Reverse the Ceiling Fan
Most ceiling fans come with a switch that makes the blades rotate in an anti-clockwise direction. This pushes warm air near the ceiling toward the floor.
Change Furnace Filters
Dust and dirt in the furnace filter will make your heating system work twice as hard. As per the instructions in the user manual, change your furnace filters in a timely manner to keep dust away from your heating system.
There may be other issues with your electric system which can contribute to increasing your energy bills. Schedule an appointment with the electricians at RHK Electrical in Cypress, Texas. Get in touch with us to know more about our electrical services!